The differences between USED TO and WOULD

The differences between USED TO and WOULD. Both USED TO and WOULD can both be used to talk about past actions. ‘Would’ can be used to speak about past actions as an alternative to the simple past or ‘used to’. We have looked at this already in Level B1, so if you haven’t seen this already, we recommend you start with this lesson. We have also look at the uses of ‘USED TO’ in Level B1, so if you are not sure of the basics, take a look at this lesson.

A quick reminder – both ‘would’ and ‘used to’ can be used to talk about past actions but we don’t use ‘would’ to refer to past states. For example, both of these sentences are correct:

• I would walk to school everyday
• I used to walk to school everyday

But only the first sentence below can be used:

• I used to be a receptionist
• I would be a receptionist

Although we can use WOULD to refer to past habits in questions or in negative statements, it’s not as common as USED TO.

Using DID to make your point stronger (normally only used in spoken English, not in writing)

• I never went to the gym when I was younger, but I did used to do some exercise at home.
• I never used to smoke regularly, though I did used to ask for a cigarette from a friend occasionally.

Using question tags

We normally make tags after USED TO with the auxiliary DIDN’T:

• She used to live in Spain, didn’t she?

Now practice your skills! Fill in the blanks with the correct form: WOULD, USED TO or BOTH.

1. We    CHOOSE THE CORRECT ANSWER(used to or would are both correct)(only used to)walk to school everyday but get a lift home.
2. The teacherCHOOSE THE CORRECT ANSWER(used to or would are both correct)(only used to)make us take out our homework first thing.
3. WeCHOOSE THE CORRECT ANSWER(used to or would are both correct)(only used to)live in the town center before we moved.
4. ThereCHOOSE THE CORRECT ANSWER(used to or would are both correct)(only used to)be a few places to lunch in the town.
5. WeCHOOSE THE CORRECT ANSWER(used to or would are both correct)(only used to)spend all our pocket money on fries at lunch.
6. ICHOOSE THE CORRECT ANSWER(used to or would are both correct)(only used to)love to have a lie in on Saturday mornings.
7. I alsoCHOOSE THE CORRECT ANSWER(used to or would are both correct)(only used to)like the television shows that were on at the weekends.
8. If it was raining at the weekends, weCHOOSE THE CORRECT ANSWER(used to or would are both correct)(only used to)lie on the couch and watch television for hours.
9. When the weather was good, ICHOOSE THE CORRECT ANSWER(used to or would are both correct)(only used to)visit my friend or meet at the mall.
10. ICHOOSE THE CORRECT ANSWER(used to or would are both correct)(only used to)understand mathematics but now I’ve forgotten it all.

Show the answers