Past habits – 'used to', 'would' and the past simple | -

Do you know how to talk about past habits using used to, would and the past simple?

Look at these examples to see how used to, would and the past simple are used.

They used to live in London.
I didn't use to like olives.
We would always go to the seaside for our holidays.
But one holiday we went to the mountains instead.

Try this exercise to test your grammar.

Grammar test 1: Past habits: Grammar test 1

Grammar explanation

When we talk about things in the past that are not true any more, we can do it in different ways.

Used to + infinitive

We can use used to to talk about past states that are not true any more.

We used to live in New York when I was a kid.
There didn't use to be a supermarket there. When did it open?
Did you use to have a garden?

We can also use used to to talk about past habits (repeated past actions) that don't happen any more.

I used to go swimming every Thursday when I was at school.
She used to smoke but she gave up a few years ago.

used to + infinitive should not be confused with be/get used to + -ing, which has a different meaning. The difference is covered here.

Would

We can use would to talk about repeated past actions that don't happen any more.

Every Saturday I would go on a long bike ride.
My dad would read me amazing stories every night at bedtime.

would for past habits is slightly more formal than used to. It is often used in stories. We don't normally use the negative or question form of would for past habits. Note that we can't usually use would to talk about past states.

Past simple

We can always use the past simple as an alternative to used to or would to talk about past states or habits. The main difference is that the past simple doesn't emphasise the repeated or continuous nature of the action or situation. Also, the past simple doesn't make it so clear that the thing is no longer true.

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

If something happened only once, we must use the past simple.

I went to Egypt in 2014.

Do this exercise to test your grammar again.

Grammar test 2: Past habits: Grammar test 2

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Language level

Upper intermediate: B2

Hello everyone!

Is it correct to say:

"She would get used to wearing contact lenses if she tried to"
and
"They couldn't get used to living in a flat..."?

Thank you so much in advance!

Best regard!

Hello Natasa Tanasa,

Yes, both of those are grammatically correct. Well done!

All the best,
Kirk
The LearnEnglish Team

Hello Team. Could you please help me? Is the following sentence correct using "would take"?
- During his school years, my father would take great interest in literature.
Thank you.

Hello Ahmed Imam,

Not really. 'would' can be used to talk about past habitual actions, but taking an interest in literature isn't really a habitual action -- it's more of a mental state.

Now if by 'take great interest in literature' you mean, for example, that when a new literary novel was published your father performed certain kinds of actions -- for example, going to book signings or attending discussions of the novel -- then this sentence could work because the idea of taking great interest in literature refers more to actions than a mental state.

Does that make sense?

All the best,
Kirk
The LearnEnglish Team

Hello team. I'm confused. Could you please help me?
In No. 1, is it correct to use "always, usually, often" with "used to + infinitive"?
In No. 2, is it correct to use "once" with "used to do"?
1- He usually used to arrive late for the training sessions when he was a member in the team.
2- I once used to read the newspaper every day. Now I don't have the time.
Thank you.

Hello Ahmed Imam,

1. Yes, you can use those adverbs with 'used to' + infinitive. 'usually used to ...' is something I'd avoid in writing because of how it sounds, but I imagine you could hear people say that in informal situations.

2. It's a little unusual to use 'once' because it essentially communicates the same idea as 'used to do', but I'm not sure I'd say it's wrong. But I would avoid using both together.

All the best,
Kirk
The LearnEnglish Team

What is the difference between I'm used to going and I'm getting used to going?

Hello Hmawe Theint,

'I'm used to going' expresses a state -- the state of being familiar with going -- and 'I'm getting used to going' expresses a process of becoming familiar with going.

Most of the time, we get used to something before we are used to it. For example, in March 2020 my children were getting used to doing their schoolwork from home. By the end of April 2020, they were used to doing their schoolwork at home.

I hope this helps.

All the best,
Kirk
The LearnEnglish Team

Hello everyone, it is about Grammar test 2 Past Habits: why in this sentence:”During that time I USED TO LIKE to spend at least two hours in the gym every day” the correct answer is ”used to like ” instead of ”would like”? I ask you that because in the explanation of using these two expression they say ”We can use would to talk about repeated past actions that don't happen any more.” and in this sentence above there is a repetead action: ”every day” which was in the past: ”during that time”. And the next sentence: ”In my first year at University I WOULD RUN for an hour every morning before breakfast” has the correct answer ”Would run” though the conditions are the same like in the first sentence: repeated action, in the past, doesn't happen any more. Thank you so much for you answer

Hi Peter Piper,

Good question. It's because in that sentence, used to directly describes like, and like is a state, not an action. Used to is for past states or actions but would is for past actions only, so that's why would isn't correct in that sentence.

However, using would, we could say this: During that time I would spend at least two hours in the gym every day (spend = action).

Does that make sense?

Jonathan

The LearnEnglish Team

-I used to wake up for school every morning -I went to a museum with my girlfriend last week -I would eat fruits every after non when I was in collage

Hello. It’s said that “would” can only be used with action verbs in the past. And I search the verb “live” on Google it says “live” is also an action verb. But still I cannot use this verb like “I would live in NY”. I must instead say “I used to live”. Why is it so? Can anybody explain?Thanks.

Hello Ice12345,

Context is very important. When we use live to mean 'have a home in a place' it describes a state rather than an action. We can use it with continuous aspect when it is a temporary state (I'm living in Tokyo at the moment) but not with would for past habit.

We can use live with other meanings. For example, you can use live on to mean 'subsist' or 'maintain yourself':

He lived on rice and beans.

With this meaning, both would and used to are possible.

How a word is used (with which meaning) is key, and that is why context is so important.

Peter

The LearnEnglish Team

Hello I can't quite understand why I have to use "used to like" instead of "would like" in the sentence," During that time, I ___ to spend at least two hours in the gym every day." In above sentence, I think the sentence is supposed to tell repeated action "every day".

Hi Zuu,

Good question! You could say: I would spend at least two hours ... . But I would like to spend ... doesn't work, because 'would like' has a different meaning. It's used for requesting or offering (e.g. I'd like a coffee / Would you like some coffee?), not for past repeated actions.

Best wishes,

Jonathan

The LearnEnglish Team

I'm confused about "Also, the past simple doesn't make it so clear that the thing is no longer true.". Doesn't that contradict the Grammar Explanation section that gives this form as a way to express that something is no longer true?

Hi jfais,

I'll try to explain :) The past simple doesn't contradict the 'no longer true' meaning. It's just that, in comparison, used to and would show that meaning more clearly and prominently than the past simple does. The past simple has various other meanings too, while used to has pretty much only this meaning, so if a speaker or writer wanted to emphasise the 'no longer true' idea and draw the listener/reader's attention to it, used to (and would) are better choices than the past simple. They convey that meaning more clearly and less ambiguously.

Does that make sense?

Jonathan

The LearnEnglish Team

Hi Peter So if I am correct on this, to emphasis the nature of the habit of the action we use, used to and would? Isn't it? Also for more formal sentences. Furthermore, in the exams can we use both "used to'' and "would'' in the gaps? What are more deferences in terms of stative and dynamic?

Hi Aryan Hozouri,

Yes, we use used to and would to describe habitual behaviour in the past which is no longer true. The difference is that while used to can be used for actions (dynamic verbs) and states (stative verbs), would can only be used for actions.

Exams should always accept any correct answer unless a particular form is specified or excluded in the rubric.

Peter

The LearnEnglish Team

As mentioned above, Past Simple doesn't emphasize the repeated nature of an action but then we see repetition in; We went to the same beach every summer. we have "every summer" this is expressing repetition. Could you explain further on this?

Hello Mustafa Abdulhai,

The past simple can describe repeated events, but it does not emphasise the repetition; the focus is on the action rather than its repeated nature. For example, if I was talking about my childhood and wanted to emphasise that an activity was repeated - for example, because it was extremely irritating - then I could use a continuous form:

Our holidays were so boring. We were just going to the same beach every summer. I hated that. Why didn't we do something different some time? Just once!

The simple form would not be incorrect here, but it would be a less emphatic way of expressing your irritation.

Peter

The LearnEnglish Team

Hello! Could you please help me understand why these sentences are marked as incorrect? 1. He would work as a journalist for a science magazine. 2. I would eat a lot of meat, but I prefer vegetarian food now. The verbs EAT and WORK are not state verbs, so WHY?

Hello lenniva,

Both 'would' and 'used to' can describe past habitual actions, but only 'used to' can describe a past state.

Your first sentence describes a state: the state of being employed by a science magazine, not the action of writing an article. Work for here means 'be employed by', not 'do a job for'.

Your second sentence could be correct, depending on whether you are thinking of the act of eating or the state of being or not being a vegetarian. It's really a question of context, but the safest choice is 'used to' as it can be used in both contexts.

Peter

The LearnEnglish Team

Hi Peter :) I'd like a little clarity on what is described as a "state". Something we feel and experiene rather than do?? I was writing a little story the other day about past habits. "My family and I often used to go skiing in France. We'd ski all day and be absolutely knackered by the end of the week." That felt right to me.. however being knackered is a state. As in we'd be knackered.. Is it because the repeated action left us knackered or am I just plain wrong and have solidified a "bad" habit into my speech. Cheers Rob

Hi Rob,

Thanks for the interesting question.

I don't think would is used here because the action is repeated. For example, you could say this:

We spent every summer with my grandparents. At first it was boring being in the country, but by the end of the summer we'd be sad to leave.

I think the correct answer is that in certain contexts we see feelings as processes rather than fixed states. It's similar to the use of progressive aspect with feelings in sentences like 'I was getting angry' or 'I was becoming frustrated'.

Peter

The LearnEnglish Team

Thank you Peter :) Much appreciated.

Hello, I have a question on the difference in meaning between using 'would' and the 'past simple'. It is written that using the 'past simple' doesn't emphasise the 'repeated or continuous' aspect of the action or state. What then is the difference between the following: They were always asking about that night They always asked about that night I would tell them nothing I told them nothing Many thanks

Hello Danodo,

We use would to describe typical behaviour in the past which is no longer true. It has a similar to used to, but can be used for actions and not states (used to can be used for either).

The past continuous can describe repeated actions, especially ones which are excessive or irritating in some way. The past simple can also describe repeated events if used with an adverb like always, but does not suggest excess or irritation.

I would explain your examples as follows:

They were always asking about that night

A repeated action in the past which the speaker might consider a little excessive or extreme.

They always asked about that night

A repeated action in the past.

I would tell them nothing

Habitual or repeated action which is no longer true.

I told them nothing

A single action in the past.

The differences here are not stark, other than the final example which is about a single event. The speaker has choices in terms of how they wish to present the action and what they choose to emphasise.

Peter

The LearnEnglish Team

hi dears can you tell the correct answer and why? The city ( didn't use to / used to ) have many more parks and gardens? thanks

Please, can explain me how we can use. Would in recent past action like nowadays in webseries i have been seeing that they use would insted of had or have For example- police officer asked to person what you have done with that person , man said i would push that person to give a path ,i forget the scene but would is used in that sentence so why and how we can get to know where we should use would or have/had Because mostly we know use of would insted of used to .

Hello Rolpanizum123,

I'm afraid that use of would does not look correct to me as an answer to the police officer's question. An answer in the past simple would be appropriate, I expect:

What did you do to that person?

I pushed him so I could get past.

Peter

The LearnEnglish Team

Hello, I have mistaken about using the word" used to like "for the past tense and using the "would like" since would like is used, when We can use would to talk about repeated past actions that don't happen any more and the question I have is choosing between two; eg: During that time, I-------------to spend at least two hours in the gym every day. Would like Used to like and therefore choosing Would like"Wrong" and also choosing Used to like"right" Since would like, We can use would to talk about repeated past actions that don't happen any more and the question is that, Why we would use " used to like" instead of "would like. NIYOMUGABO Emmanuel English learning Team.

Hello NIYOMUGABO Emmanuel,

We don't normally use 'would' to speak about past states. This is not only true for 'like', but also for verbs such as 'have' or 'think'.

It might also be helpful to remember that 'would like' is an extremely commonly used verb phrase in English. When you see or hear it, the vast majority of the time it will be about expressing a wish.

Hope this helps you make sense of it.

All the best,

Kirk

The LearnEnglish Team

What would Faten do to help her mother? Here we use the question form of would with the simple past Is it correct?

Hello Aaxz,

The verb here is would + base form [would do] followed by an infinitive of purpose [to help]. There is no past form here.

Peter

The LearnEnglish Team

Could you clarify for me the meaning of this sentence has been made. Did I use to have garden ? I have a doubt about the "have" word in sentence mentioned.

Hello Karan Narang,

We use used to (didn't use to) to describe habits or situations which were true in the past but are no longer true. If a person had a garden in the past and no longer has one then it is quite possible to say this:

Did you use to have a garden?

I'm not sure it's very likely that a person would ask about themselves, however. It would suggest they can't remember their own life, which is possible but unlikely.

Peter

The LearnEnglish Team

Hello Sir, Could you clarify my confusion it is in the following sentence. During that time I would go to gym for 2 hours everyday. But the correct answer is ‘used to’ in same sentence like during that time I used to like to go gym for 2 hours everyday. As far as I am concerned if ‘would’ can be used in repeated action in the past, both used to and would are interchangeable. But the correct answer is used to instead of would.

Hello Ujin,

Here the trick is that 'would like' has a special meaning in English. We use it to make polite requests -- it's essentially a more polite way of saying 'I want'.

We don't use 'would' with 'like' to talk about repeated past actions. We could say 'I used to go to the gym' or 'I would go to the gym', but notice that here I have not used the verb 'like'. To express that I liked going to the gym, you can't use 'would like' -- instead you can use the past simple ('I liked going') or 'used to' ('I used to like to go').

Does that make sense?

All the best

Kirk

The LearnEnglish Team

Thank you for your kind advice.

Hello! I got confused about what's the correct way to say "In the past when I would misgender somebody, I would freak out". Should I use "would" in both parts of the sentence? Thank you in advance!

Hi biggkush, Yes, that's fine! There may be some redundancy by using 'would' in both clauses, since 'when' already shows that the two actions happened together. I think both of these sentences have the same meaning as yours: - When I misgendered somebody, I would freak out. - When I would misgender somebody, I freaked out. I'd say these all mean the same thing. Best wishes, Jonathan The LearnEnglish Team

Can we say "she would smoke but she gave up a few years ago."?

Hello PeteG

In a specific context, that would be correct. What is the situation or meaning that you have in mind?

All the best

Kirk

The LearnEnglish Team

It's really interesting.

Dear sir, May I know why the answer for the question below is "didn't use to get" instead of "wouldn't get"? But Dad ___ angry because he had done the same when he was a kid.

Hello wcyam10

This is a somewhat grey area. To me and to other native speakers I have asked, it sounds strange to use 'wouldn't get' here, but as far as I can tell, there is no strict rule against using it here. This is why the grammar explanation above says we don't normally use 'would' in the negative in this way.

All the best

Kirk

The LearnEnglish Team

The topics of the portal have good information, present their proper use and structures to facilitate their understanding. This tests help a lot to practice the topics and see where we have failures.