USED TO, WOULD

Used to and would are both used to talk about the past. We use used to and would to talk about things that started in the past and finished in the past.

Used to is used to talk about past states or repeated actions in the past. Did or didn’t show past tense so if they are used, used to becomes use to.

I didn’t use to live in an apartment. (past state)

He used to take the train to work every day. (repeated action)

Did she use to play video games in the afternoon? (repeated action)

Would is only used to talk about repeated actions in the past.

My friends would bring their lunch to school. (repeated action)

So we can use used to and would interchangeably if they are being used to talk about repeated actions.

He used to take the train to work every day.

He would take the train to work every day.

Did she use to play video games all afternoon when she was younger?

Would she play video games all afternoon when she was younger?

My friends used to bring their lunch to school.

My friends would bring their lunch to school.

But we can only use used to to talk about states in the past.

I didn’t use to live in an apartment. (used to, not would)

If an action happens only once in the past the past simple is used rather than used to or would.

Used to, would questions

  1. What would you do for fun when you were a child?
  2. What games did you use to play when you were young?
  3. Who would help you with your homework when you were in junior high school?
  4. Did you use to get into a lot of trouble when you were a kid? Why or why not?
  5. Whose house would you go to when you were in elementary school?
  6. What snacks did you use to eat all the time but now dislike?
  7. What restaurant would your family go to a lot when you were a child? Do they still go there?
  8. Are there any embarrassing fashion trends you used to follow?
  9. Who did you use to play with in elementary school?
  10. What would you usually do after school finished when you were younger?
  11. Did you use to build forts when you were a child?
  12. Where would you hangout when you were a teenager?
  13. What used to be your favorite toy?
  14. What extracurricular activities did you use to do?
  15. How would you get home from elementary school?
  16. What are some things people used to do in your country but don’t now?
  17. What game did you use to play a lot when you were younger?
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