Use of 'used to'/ 'would' - past habits

'used to' 

It is used to indicate a past action that doesn't happen any longer

Examples:

I used to play tennis a lot. Now I play golf.

We always used to have dogs. Now we have a cat.

The factory used to be over there.

There used to be a house there.

I used to play cricket in my childhood.

They used to live in the town when they were employed.

'would' 

It is used 

to talk about characteristic behavior or habits.

Example:

At school she would always sit quietly and pay attention.

for repeated activities for a period of time in the past (habitual or routine actions in the past)

Example:

On Sundays all the family would come to our place for lunch.

They were nice people, but they would play loud music all night. 

Basic difference between 'used to' and 'would'

Would is only used to talk about habits - things that people did repeatedly - in particular time frames.

At weekends we used to/would go camping in the mountains.

I used to play the violin.  (no time-frame)

I used to have a Volkswagen. (not a habit)

HOMEWORK

Complete the sentences using the verb in brackets with the correct form of ‘used to’ or ‘would’. An example has been done for you.

When I was a child we used to live in a village near a forest. Back then, we (i) _________ (grow) vegetables in our back garden. Every day we (ii) _________(get up) early and go for a walk. The weather in summer (iii) __________ (be) really nice. There was a lake near the house and we (iv) ___________ (go) there every Sunday for a picnic. Winters (v) ___________ (be) rather cold. In the evenings, my father (vi) ___________(tell) us incredible stories and we (vii) ___________ (listen) with admiration.

Answer Key

i) used to ii) would iii)  used to be iv) would v) used to be vi) would vii) would