Learning English

So, did you work out the grammar rule in the last activity? The main difference is that both used to and would help us talk about regular past activities or habits, but only used to is for past states.

Habits

• When I picked up a passenger, I used to ask them where they were going
• I wouldn't carry a map - never!

States

• I used to know all the street names in London.
• I used to love rambling!
• I used to be a very good amateur mechanic.

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To do

Complete the sentences with used to and would. There is an explanation of all the forms under the quiz and in the grammar box, but why don't you try the quiz first to see how much you can work out?

Form

The different forms of these phrases are:

• used to + infinitive (without 'to'’)
• did / did not / didn’t + use to + infinitive (without 'to'’)
• would / would not / wouldn’t + infinitive (without 'to'’).

Used to is the simple past. Use to is for negative and question forms. Used to describes both habits and states.

Used to - Habits

• Isabel used to sing in a band.
• Pablo didn’t use to drive to work.
• Did John use to study with you?

Used to - States

• Bob used to be much shorter.
• I didn’t use to like art.
• Did Wayne use to belong to the debate team?
• Didn’t Mario use to hate flying?

Would - Habits (not states)

• Since I had the day free, I would shop for groceries every Monday.
• Since we were always in a hurry, we wouldn’t stop for tea on Fridays.
• Would you often stay for lunch?

Take note: adverbs

Used to and would already show that something happened in the past. We don’t usually add adverbs. But, if you want to stress a time period, you can add an adverb.

• I didn’t use to travel frequently, but now I do.
• Nancy would go for a jog every day, but now she doesn’t have enough time.

Next

It's time for 6 Minute Grammar. In the programme, we practise all the grammar from this unit, and find out which member of the Learning English team used to sleepwalk - walk around while they were asleep...