Both used to and would can describe past habits and repeated actions, but they're not interchangeable. Understanding the difference is crucial for natural, accurate English. According to Carter & McCarthy (2006), these forms represent different aspectual perspectives on past events and are selected based on specific contextual requirements.

Used To: Past States and Habits

Used to + infinitive describes both past habits and past states that are no longer true. It emphasizes the contrast between past and present.

• Past habits: I used to smoke, but I quit last year.
• Past states: There used to be a cinema here.
• Past situations: She used to live in Paris.

• I used to play tennis every weekend. (past habit, no longer true)
• This building used to be a school. (past state)
• We used to be best friends. (past relationship)
• He used to have long hair. (past appearance)
• There used to be more trees in this area. (past existence)

Would: Past Repeated Actions Only

Would + infinitive can only describe past repeated actions and habits. It cannot be used for past states. It's often used in nostalgic reminiscences or when describing characteristic behavior.

• When I was young, I would spend hours reading. (repeated action)
• Every summer, we would visit my grandparents. (repeated action)
• She would always arrive late to meetings. (habitual behavior)
• He would often tell the same stories. (repeated action)

Key Differences

✅ Correct with both:
"I used to go swimming every day."
"I would go swimming every day."

✅ Only "used to" works for states:
"I used to live in London." ✅
"I would live in London." ❌

✅ "Would" often needs time context:
"Every morning, I would wake up at 6 AM." ✅
"I would wake up at 6 AM." ❌ (needs time reference)
"I used to wake up at 6 AM." ✅ (no time reference needed)

Questions and Negatives

• Used to - Questions: Did you use to play football? (Note: "use" not "used")
• Used to - Negatives: I didn't use to like coffee.
• Would: Standard question/negative formation: Would you visit often?

Common Mistakes

• ❌ I would have long hair. → ✅ I used to have long hair. (state)
• ❌ I used to go there yesterday. → ✅ I went there yesterday. (specific past, not habit)
• ❌ Did you used to smoke? → ✅ Did you use to smoke? (no -d in questions)
• ❌ I'm not used to swim. → ✅ I'm not used to swimming. (be used to + -ing is different!)

Be Used To vs Used To

Don't confuse used to + infinitive with be used to + -ing (meaning "be accustomed to").

• I used to drive = I drove in the past (but don't now)
• I'm used to driving = I'm accustomed to driving (it's normal for me now)

Frequently Asked Questions

Related topics: Past Simple Tense · Wish vs Hope · Conditionals