Grammar – Modal Verb: Would = Used to
In a previous grammar lesson, you learned how to use used to to talk about things you did in the past but you don’t do now.
In the listening lesson “53 Years Together!”, I talked about things my parents did when they were dating. I said …
They would go on dates to the movies or to parties and dances, and sometimes they would double date with my uncle and his girlfriend.
In English, the modal verb would can also be used to talk about things that happened regularly or things you did regularly in the past. Specifically, would is used to talk about repeated activities, habits or events in the past.
Would can be use the same way as used to EXCEPT would is NOT used to talk about past states:
I used to smoke, but I quit last year.
XI would smoke, but I quit last year.She used to have a cat.
XI would have a cat.He used to have long hair.
XHe would have long hair.
*Don’t worry if you can’t understand the subtle difference between used to and would right now! This is an advanced grammar point and it usually takes English learners awhile and a lot of practice to understand when to use would this way.
Example sentences:
When I was young, I would lock myself in my room and play the guitar for hours.
When I was young, I used to lock myself in my room and play the guitar for hours.He would go out to bars and drink every weekend when he was in university.
He used to go out to bars and drink every weekend when he was in university.Before we went to bed on Christmas Eve, my sister and I would put out cookies and milk for Santa!
Before we went to bed on Christmas Eve, my sister and I used to put out cookies and milk for Santa!Whenever she was sad as a teenager, she would listen to depressing music.
Whenever she was sad as a teenager, she used to listen to depressing music.Every fall, just after school started, my family would go to the apple farm and pick apples right off the trees!
Every fall, just after school started, my family used to go to the apple farm and pick apples right off the trees!
Grammar – How to Use ‘Used to’
used to + base form of verb
Uses of this structure:
1. To talk about something you did in the past (a repeated action, a habit, something you did for months or years), but you do NOT do now.
When I was young, I used to play in the park with my friends. I don’tt play in the park with my friends anymore.
I used to teach kindergarten, but now I teach grade 1.
I used to be a very picky eater. I eat everything now!
I used to play a lot of sports when I was young. After I broke my leg I had to stop playing sports!
2. To talk about something that happened regularly in the past, but doesn’t happen anymore.
The clothing store used to have a sale every month! It only has a sale once in awhile now.
I miss how you used to make me smile with your crazy jokes.
We used to go to church every Sunday.
3. To talk about something that was true in the past, but is not true now.
This used to be a pet store. Now, it’s a bank!
Life used to be so much easier.
People used to think the earth was flat and the sun revolved around the earth.
People used to be able to smoke on airplanes. In fact, you used to be able to smoke anywhere: the workplace, the grocery store, even the doctor’s office!
We often use used to to emphasize a contrast between the past and present.
IMPORTANT!
Used to is ONLY used to talk about the past. You can only use it in the simple past tense. It is not used in any other verb tense.
X: Now I use to play tennis.
Pronunciation
For this use of used, the ‘d’ at the end of the word is pronounced /t/. Because the next word ‘to’ also starts with a /t/ sound, the two ‘t’ sounds are linked together. Used to actually sounds like ‘useto’ /juːstu/ or /juːstə/
Question Form
Did ____ use to…?
Did you use to smoke?
What did we use to do before computers?!
Didn’t Ken use to live here, too?
Negative
1. didn’t use to…
The correct negative form is didn’t use to but it common to see people write didn’t used to.
I didn’t use to smoke. I started smoking when I lost my job.
She didn’t use to be so fat. She put on a lot of weight after she had a baby.
2. never used to…
I never used to be afraid of dogs, but then I was bitten by one and now I’m terrified of dogs!
3. not like I used to
This expression can be used when you want to say that you continue to do something now that you did in the past, but differently (not as much or as often as you used to do).
I don’t drink and party as much as I used to. I still go out and have fun, but not like I used to.
I love you, but not like I used to.
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