Ch 8 · Lesson 9English · Chapter 8 · Lesson 9 · Grammar primer
Would: every summer we would go to the sea
Would can tell the story of actions you did again and again, but never of states: I used to live there, not I would live there.
The short version
Would can tell old habits, never old states
.
Why?Hide
Would plus a verb can talk about actions you did again and again in the past, just like used to. But it cannot do states such as live, have, know or like. For those, only used to works.
Would: again and again
Would + the plain verb can also talk about the past: about actions you did again and again. People often use it to tell a story about when they were young.
..rained, .
Here used to works too, with the same meaning:
.Would cannot do states
Would only works for actions done again and again. It does not work for states: live, have, know, like.
| Verb | With used to | Would? |
|---|---|---|
| () | . | |
| () | . | |
| () | , . | |
| () | , . | |
| () | , . |
London. is right. I would live in London
means something else: an idea, as in I would live in London if I could.
When you are not sure, use used to.
Not for now
Used to is only for the past. For a habit now, use the present simple, often with usually or always:
.(not I use to get up at seven).
Going further: Used to: true then, not now and the rest of the guide, when you want them. This lesson does not need them.
Practice
Practise this lesson
10-question session
One question at a time, mixed across the exercises in this lesson. Miss one and it comes back round before the end.
English · Free printables
Worksheets for this lesson
Worksheets with answer keys built in. Open any one to view, print or save.
Free for members
The printable worksheets, infographics and PDFs are free with an account. Start a free week and download as many as you like.
Start your free weekLesson 9 of 29 in this chapter