Used to and would

⟦used to⟧ talks about past habits and states that are no longer true: ⟦I used to live in Cairo.⟧ (I don't live there now.) ⟦would⟧ can also describe past habits, but only actions.

Key facts

  • ⟦used to⟧ + verb, the same for every person: ⟦I used to play the piano.⟧ ⟦She used to have long hair.⟧
  • Negative: ⟦didn't use to⟧ (no ⟦d⟧ after ⟦did⟧): ⟦He didn't use to like vegetables.⟧
  • Question: ⟦Did you use to…?⟧: ⟦Did you use to walk to school?⟧
  • ⟦would⟧ can replace ⟦used to⟧ for repeated actions: ⟦Every summer, we would swim in the river.⟧
  • ⟦would⟧ is never used for states (⟦be⟧, ⟦have⟧, ⟦live⟧, ⟦like⟧, ⟦know⟧): ⟦We used to have a dog⟧, not ⟦We would have a dog⟧.

Worked examples

Example 1

Make it negative: ⟦She used to eat meat.⟧

  1. Add ⟦didn't⟧.
  2. ⟦used⟧ becomes ⟦use⟧: ⟦didn't use to⟧.

Answer: ⟦She didn't use to eat meat.⟧

Example 2

Make it a question: ⟦They used to live in Kenya.⟧

  1. Put ⟦Did⟧ before the subject.
  2. Then ⟦use to⟧ and the verb.

Answer: ⟦Did they use to live in Kenya?⟧

Example 3

Can ⟦would⟧ replace ⟦used to⟧? ⟦I used to be very shy.⟧

  1. ⟦be shy⟧ is a state, not a repeated action.
  2. Only ⟦used to⟧ works with states.

Answer: No