Past habit used to/would/past simple

When we talk about things that happened in the past but dont happen
anymore we can do it in different ways.
Used to
We used to live in New York when I was a kid.
There didnt use to be a petrol station there. When was it built?
We can use used to to talk about past states .
I used to go swimming every Thursday when I was at school.
I used to smoke but I gave up a few years ago.

or we can use used to to talk about repeated past actions

Remember that used to is only for past states/actions that dont happen now
we cant use it for things that still happen now. Also, used to + infinitive
should not be confused with be/get used to + ing form this is covered in a
separate section.
Would
Every Saturday I would go on a long bike ride.
My teachers would always say Sit down and shut up!
We can use would to talk about repeated past actions.
Often either would or used to is possible. Both of these sentences are
possible.
Every Saturday, I would go on a long bike ride.
Every Saturday I used to go on a long bike ride.

However, only used to is possible when we talk about past states.

We used to live in New York when I was a kid.
We would live in New York when I was a kid.

Past simple
We went/used to go/would go to the same beach every summer.

We can use the past simple in the same way as used to and would to talk
about repeated past actions.
I had/used to have a dog called Charlie.

We can also use the past simple for past states.

I went to Egypt in 1988.

However, if something happened only once we cant use used to or would

we must use the past simple.

used to + infinitive and be/get used to

People often get confused about the use of used to + infinitive and
be/get used to + ing form because they look similar. They are,
however, completely different.
used to + infinitive
We use used to to talk about things that happened in the past
actions or states that no longer happen now.
She used to be a long distance runner when she was younger.
I used to eat meat but I became a vegetarian 5 years ago.

The negative is didnt use to and questions are formed with Did you
use to ?
There is no present tense equivalent of used to. To talk about present
habits we use the present simple and an adverb of frequency (usually,
always, often, never, etc.)
e.g. I often eat at the Japanese restaurant in the city centre.
be/get used to
If you are used to something, you are accustomed to it you dont find
it unusual. If you get used to something or you are getting used to
something you are becoming accustomed to it it was strange, now its
not so strange.
I found Slovak food very strange at first but Im used to it now.
Im getting used to driving on the right.

Both be used to and get used to are followed by a noun (or

pronoun) or the gerund the ing form of a verb.
I cant get used to getting up so early. Im tired all the time.
Hes not used to the weather here yet. Hes finding it very cold.

Be/get used to can be used with past, present and future tenses.
You might find it strange at first but youll soon get used to it.
He wasnt used to the heat and he caught sunstroke.

Used to or Would
If its possible, make a sentence with would + infinitive. If its not
possible, use used to + infinitive:
1) I / have short hair when I was a teenager .
........................................................................................
2) We / go to the same little caf for lunch every day when I was a
student .
........................................................................................
3) She / love playing badminton before she hurt her shoulder .
........................................................................................
4) He / walk along the beach every evening before bed .
........................................................................................
5) I / always lose when I played chess with my father .
........................................................................................
6) She / be able to dance very well .
........................................................................................
7) My grandfather / drink a cup of coffee after dinner every night .
........................................................................................
8) Luke / not have a car .
........................................................................................
9) We / live in Brazil .
........................................................................................
10) My family / often go to the countryside for the weekend when I was
young .
..................................................................................

"Used To" or "Would"?

For each of the following sentences, choose either "used to" or "would".
If both are possible, use "would".
1. Do you remember how your Uncle David ....................... sit in
that chair and smoke those disgusting cigars.
2. Your mother ....................... have a Yorkshire Terrier when she
was a young girl, didn't she?
3. For years, they ....................... go on holiday to the Rockies, but
then it became very fashionable and, hence, expensive.
4. Years ago, I ....................... write a diary every day but then I got
bored with doing it and I stopped. Maybe it was my life that was
boring!
5. At the start of their marriage, they ....................... be very happy
- but then it all went wrong!
6. You ....................... spell so well. Whatever happened?
7. When I was five, I ....................... be able to do incredible
gymnastics. Now I can't even touch my toes.
8. Before getting my driving licence, I ....................... ride a bicycle
everywhere.
9. I ....................... be very shy. Whenever we had guests at home, I
....................... hide in my room.
10. When we were children, we ....................... visit my
grandmother every Sunday.
11. Ten years ago I ....................... have a motorbike.
12. There ....................... be quite a lot of cinemas in the town, but
now there aren't any.
13. Last Summer, my sister and I took a camping trip in the Five Fingers
Mountains. It was a wonderful experience. Every morning,
we ....................... wake up to the sound of singing birds.

Used to
This grammar exercise tests your ability to use used to correctly.
1. I am not used to .. in cold climates.
a) live
here

b) living

c) Either could be used

2. When we were kids, we . go swimming in the evenings.

a) were used to

b) used to

3. She used to . a lot.

a) write
here

b) writing

c) Either could be used

4. I am not used to .. on the left.

a) drive
here

b) driving

c) Either could be used

5. I didnt use to .. fish or meat, but now I do.

a) eat
here

b) eating

c) Either could be used

6. He quit his job in Saudi Arabia because he .. living in

such a hot country.
a) did not use to

b) was not used to c) did not used to

7. They are used to .. in poverty.

a) live
here

b) living

c) Either could be used

8. You will soon get used to .. things on your own.

a) do

b) doing

9. First-time mothers often find it difficult to get used to ..

up in the middle of the night.
a) get

b) getting

10. I to like him, but now I do.

a) used not

b) didnt used

c) use not