✨ Talking About Past Habits: "Used To" and "Would" ✨
Hi kids! 👋 Do you remember things you did many times when you were younger, but maybe you don't do them now? We can talk about these old habits using special words: "used to" and "would".
Think of them like time machine words! 🕰️
Here's how they work:
- We use "used to" when we talk about something that was true for a long time in the past, or something we did regularly. It works for actions (like "I used to play") and for states or feelings (like "I used to be shy").
- We use "would" mostly for actions that we repeated many times in the past. It's like saying, "again and again, I did this." We don't usually use "would" for states or feelings from the past.
- Sometimes, for repeated actions, you can use either "used to" or "would"!
Let's look at some examples to make it super clear! 👇
Let's Practice! 📝
1. I would spend hours under it.
I used to spend hours under it.
2. My father used to get transferred every year.
My father would get transferred every year.
3. My mother would set up an establishment.
My mother used to set up an establishment.
4. Our day used to start with the family huddling around my mother’s chulha.
Our day would start with the family huddling around my mother’s chulha.
5. He would give a reply.
He used to give a reply.
6. She would take her kitchen utensils and she and I would dig the rocky, white ant infested surroundings.
She used to take her kitchen utensils and she and I used to dig the rocky, white ant infested surroundings. (Or: She used to take her kitchen utensils and she and I would dig...)
7. She would cook for the family.
She used to cook for the family.
More Examples to Make You a Pro! 🏆
8. We would visit our grandparents every summer.
We used to visit our grandparents every summer.
9. I used to collect stamps when I was a child.
I would collect stamps when I was a child.
10. They would play football in that field.
They used to play football in that field.
11. My brother used to be very naughty.
My brother used to be very naughty. (Here, "would" is not suitable as it's a state, not a repeated action.)
12. She would always bring us sweets.
She used to always bring us sweets.
13. He used to live in a small village.
He used to live in a small village. ("Would" is not suitable for this past state.)
14. We would go for long walks after dinner.
We used to go for long walks after dinner.
15. My teacher used to tell us fascinating stories.
My teacher would tell us fascinating stories.
16. I would dream of becoming an astronaut.
I used to dream of becoming an astronaut.
17. That shop used to sell the best ice cream.
That shop used to sell the best ice cream. (Could argue "would" if thinking of the repeated action of selling, but "used to" is more natural for the state of the shop).
18. Every winter, we would build a snowman.
Every winter, we used to build a snowman.
19. My grandmother used to knit sweaters for us.
My grandmother would knit sweaters for us.
20. He would often forget his keys.
He used to often forget his keys.
21. There used to be a big tree in our garden.
There used to be a big tree in our garden. ("Would" is not suitable for this state.)
22. We would watch cartoons every Saturday morning.
We used to watch cartoons every Saturday morning.
23. My dad used to take me to the park.
My dad would take me to the park.
24. She would sing beautifully in the choir.
She used to sing beautifully in the choir.
25. I used to be afraid of the dark.
I used to be afraid of the dark. ("Would" is not suitable.)
26. They would often argue about silly things.
They used to often argue about silly things.
27. He used to work as a baker.
He used to work as a baker. ("Would" might imply he worked intermittently, "used to" is better for a past profession/state.)
28. My mom would read me a bedtime story every night.
My mom used to read me a bedtime story every night.
29. We used to have a pet dog named Spot.
We used to have a pet dog named Spot. ("Would" is not suitable.)
30. He would always wear a hat.
He used to always wear a hat.
31. She used to play the piano very well.
She would play the piano very well.
32. I would help my mom in the kitchen.
I used to help my mom in the kitchen.
33. That old house used to be haunted, people said.
That old house used to be haunted, people said. ("Would" is not suitable.)
34. We would spend hours talking on the phone.
We used to spend hours talking on the phone.
35. My grandfather used to grow vegetables in his garden.
My grandfather would grow vegetables in his garden.
36. She would write letters to her pen pal.
She used to write letters to her pen pal.
37. I used to think monsters lived under my bed.
I used to think monsters lived under my bed. ("Would" is not suitable.)
38. They would go fishing by the river.
They used to go fishing by the river.
39. He used to have long hair.
He used to have long hair. ("Would" is not suitable.)
40. We would celebrate birthdays with a big cake.
We used to celebrate birthdays with a big cake.
41. My sister used to hide my toys.
My sister would hide my toys.
42. He would tell jokes that made everyone laugh.
He used to tell jokes that made everyone laugh.
43. I used to hate broccoli, but now I like it.
I used to hate broccoli, but now I like it. ("Would" is not suitable.)
44. She would always carry an umbrella.
She used to always carry an umbrella.
45. We used to live next to a noisy factory.
We used to live next to a noisy factory. ("Would" is not suitable.)
46. My friend would share his lunch with me.
My friend used to share his lunch with me.
47. He used to be the captain of the football team.
He used to be the captain of the football team. ("Would" is not suitable.)
48. We would often go camping in the mountains.
We used to often go camping in the mountains.
49. She used to write poems in her diary.
She would write poems in her diary.
50. I would wait for the school bus at the corner.
I used to wait for the school bus at the corner.
51. My parents used to take us to the zoo on weekends.
My parents would take us to the zoo on weekends.
52. He would fix broken toys for his little sister.
He used to fix broken toys for his little sister.
53. There used to be a cinema in our town.
There used to be a cinema in our town. ("Would" is not suitable.)
54. We would play hide-and-seek for hours.
We used to play hide-and-seek for hours.
55. She used to believe in fairies.
She used to believe in fairies. ("Would" is not suitable.)
56. My grandfather would tell us stories about his youth.
My grandfather used to tell us stories about his youth.
57. I used to collect seashells from the beach.
I would collect seashells from the beach.
58. They would have picnics in the park every Sunday.
They used to have picnics in the park every Sunday.
59. He used to be very shy around new people.
He used to be very shy around new people. ("Would" is not suitable.)
60. She would bake cookies for us every Christmas.
She used to bake cookies for us every Christmas.
61. We used to listen to the radio for news.
We would listen to the radio for news.
62. He would often go fishing early in the morning.
He used to often go fishing early in the morning.
63. This building used to be a library.
This building used to be a library. ("Would" is not suitable.)
64. We would climb the big mango tree in our backyard.
We used to climb the big mango tree in our backyard.
65. My aunt used to send us postcards from her travels.
My aunt would send us postcards from her travels.
66. I would make paper airplanes and fly them.
I used to make paper airplanes and fly them.
67. The old man used to sit on this bench every day.
The old man would sit on this bench every day.
68. She would help her neighbors with their gardening.
She used to help her neighbors with their gardening.
69. People used to write letters more often.
People would write letters more often.
70. He would draw pictures of superheroes.
He used to draw pictures of superheroes.
71. I used to have a recurring dream.
I used to have a recurring dream. ("Would" is not suitable for "have" in this context of possession/state.)
72. We would play board games on rainy days.
We used to play board games on rainy days.
73. My father used to read the newspaper every morning.
My father would read the newspaper every morning.
74. She would visit her cousins during school holidays.
She used to visit her cousins during school holidays.
75. This area used to be farmland.
This area used to be farmland. ("Would" is not suitable.)
76. He would always arrive late for meetings.
He used to always arrive late for meetings.
77. I used to bite my nails when I was nervous.
I would bite my nails when I was nervous.
78. We would sing songs around the campfire.
We used to sing songs around the campfire.
79. My mother used to make the best apple pie.
My mother would make the best apple pie.
80. She would practice dancing for hours.
She used to practice dancing for hours.
81. I used to want to be a firefighter.
I used to want to be a firefighter. ("Would" is not suitable for "want" as a past state of desire.)
82. They would often travel to different countries.
They used to often travel to different countries.
83. He used to own a red bicycle.
He used to own a red bicycle. ("Would" is not suitable for "own" as a past state of possession.)
84. We would exchange gifts during festivals.
We used to exchange gifts during festivals.
85. My brother used to tease me a lot.
My brother would tease me a lot.
86. She would often daydream in class.
She used to often daydream in class.
87. The street used to be much quieter.
The street used to be much quieter. ("Would" is not suitable.)
88. He would tell us funny anecdotes.
He used to tell us funny anecdotes.
89. I used to get up early to watch the sunrise.
I would get up early to watch the sunrise.
90. We would have water fights in the summer.
We used to have water fights in the summer.
91. My grandmother used to make delicious jams.
My grandmother would make delicious jams.
92. He would always forget where he put his glasses.
He used to always forget where he put his glasses.
93. This river used to be full of fish.
This river used to be full of fish. ("Would" is not suitable.)
94. She would spend her afternoons reading in the library.
She used to spend her afternoons reading in the library.
95. I used to think the moon followed our car.
I used to think the moon followed our car. ("Would" is not suitable.)
96. We would build forts out of pillows and blankets.
We used to build forts out of pillows and blankets.
97. My teacher used to give us stars for good work.
My teacher would give us stars for good work.
98. He would play the guitar and sing folk songs.
He used to play the guitar and sing folk songs.
99. That cafe used to serve amazing coffee.
That cafe used to serve amazing coffee. (Similar to example 17, "used to" is more natural.)
100. We would look at old photo albums and laugh.
We used to look at old photo albums and laugh.
101. She used to write long emails to her friends abroad.
She would write long emails to her friends abroad.
102. He would often go for a run before breakfast.
He used to often go for a run before breakfast.
103. My city used to be much smaller years ago.
My city used to be much smaller years ago. ("Would" is not suitable.)
104. We would make wishes on shooting stars.
We used to make wishes on shooting stars.
105. My uncle used to repair old clocks as a hobby.
My uncle would repair old clocks as a hobby.
106. She would always remember everyone's birthday.
She used to always remember everyone's birthday.
107. I used to imagine I could fly like a bird.
I used to imagine I could fly like a bird. ("Would" is not suitable for the state of imagining in this context.)
Tricky Words Made Easy! 💡
Used to: A phrase we use to talk about something that happened regularly in the past but doesn't happen now, OR something that was true in the past but isn't true now.
Would: A word we often use to talk about actions that someone did again and again in the past.
Establishment: A home, or a place where a family lives and sets up their daily life. It can also mean a business or organization.
Transferred: Moved from one job or place to another, often as part of work.
Huddling: Gathering closely together, like when it's cold or for comfort.
Chulha: A traditional type of stove or fireplace, often made of mud or clay, used for cooking, especially in some parts of India.
Utensils: Tools used in the kitchen for cooking or eating, like spoons, pots, and pans.
Infested: Full of something unwanted and usually harmful, like insects (e.g., "white ant infested" means full of white ants).
Surroundings: The area or things around a person or place.
Fascinating: Very interesting or charming.
Astronaut: A person trained to travel in space.
Choir: A group of people who sing together, often in a church or at concerts.
Recurring: Happening again and again.
Anecdotes: Short, amusing, or interesting stories about a real incident or person.
Abroad: In or to a foreign country or countries.
Regularly: Often; at fixed or similar times or intervals.
Habits: Things we do regularly or often, sometimes without thinking much about them.
State: A way something is, a condition (e.g., "I used to be shy" - "be shy" is a state).
Action: Something that someone does (e.g., "I used to play" - "play" is an action).