Everything you need to talk about past habits correctly in English, used to, would, and the completely different be used to structure, with exam practice.
📖 Reading time: ~11 minutes✅ Reviewed by a CELTA-qualified teacher🎯 Covers A1 to B2
English has two special structures just for talking about past habits and repeated actions that are no longer true: "used to" and "would." Both point back to a past routine, but they aren't fully interchangeable, and there's also a completely unrelated structure, "be used to," which looks almost identical but means something entirely different.
2. Quick Summary
⚡ Used to / Would at a Glance
used toPast habits AND past states: "I used to live in Rome."
wouldPast habits only, not states: "We would visit every summer."
be used toDifferent meaning entirely: familiar with something now
Example"I used to be shy, and I would avoid parties."
Common Mistake"I would live in Rome" — would can't describe a past state
3. used to
"Used to" describes both repeated past actions and past states (things that were true but no longer are), always contrasted with the present.
Form
Structure
Example
Positive
subject + used to + base verb
I used to smoke.
Negative
subject + didn't use to + base verb
I didn't use to like coffee.
Question
Did + subject + use to + base verb?
Did you use to live here?
I used to play football every weekend. (repeated action)
She used to be very shy. (past state)
There used to be a cinema here. (past state, now gone)
⚠️
Spelling in negatives and questions
Only one "d": "didn't use to," not "didn't used to." The "-ed" belongs to "used" only in the positive form.
4. would (for past habits)
"Would" can also describe repeated past actions, but only actions, never states (never with "be," "have," "like," or other stative verbs).
Every summer, we would visit my grandparents. (repeated action, correct)
❌ We would live in Rome. (state, incorrect, use "used to live" instead)
5. be used to / get used to — A Different Meaning
This looks similar but means something completely different: being familiar or comfortable with something, in the present. "Used to" here is an adjective phrase, not a past habit structure, and it's followed by a noun or a gerund, never a base verb.
Structure
Meaning
Example
be used to + noun/gerund
Familiar with something (a current state)
I'm used to the cold now, I've lived here for years.
get used to + noun/gerund
The process of becoming familiar with something
It took me months to get used to driving on the left.
6. used to vs would vs past simple
Structure
Can Describe States?
Can Describe Repeated Actions?
used to
✅ Yes
✅ Yes
would
❌ No
✅ Yes
past simple
✅ Yes
✅ Yes (but without the "habitual" emphasis)
7. Common Mistakes
❌ Incorrect
✅ Correct
Why
I would live in Paris as a child.
I used to live in Paris as a child.
"Live" describes a state, and "would" can't be used for states.
I didn't used to like vegetables.
I didn't use to like vegetables.
Only one "d" in negatives and questions.
I am used to eat spicy food now.
I am used to eating spicy food now.
"Be used to" needs a gerund, not a base verb.
Did you used to smoke?
Did you use to smoke?
The base form "use" is needed after "did," not "used."
8. Exercises
A. Gap Fill — Complete with used to, would, or the correct form (10 questions)
1. I ___ (use to) play tennis every Sunday.
2. She ___ (use to) be afraid of dogs, but not anymore.
3. ___ you ___ (use to) live in London?
4. There ___ (use to) be a shop on this corner.
5. Every summer, my family ___ (would/visit) the coast.
6. I'm slowly getting ___ (use to) the new schedule.
7. It took months to get ___ (use to) drive on the left.
8. I didn't ___ (use to) drink coffee.
9. He ___ (use to) work here, but he left last year.
10. We would often ___ (walk) to school together as children.
Show Answers (A)
1. used to 2. used to 3. Did...use to 4. used to 5. would visit 6. used to 7. used to (getting used to driving) 8. use to 9. used to 10. walk
B. Multiple Choice (6 questions)
1. I ___ live in Spain as a child. (a) used to (b) would
2. We ___ visit my grandparents every summer. (a) used to / would (both work) (b) neither works
3. She ___ be very shy. (a) used to (b) would
4. ___ you use to smoke? (a) Did (b) Do
5. I'm used to ___ early now. (a) wake up (b) waking up
6. I didn't ___ like sushi. (a) use to (b) used to
Show Answers (B)
1.a 2.a 3.a 4.a 5.b 6.a
C. Error Correction (5 questions)
1. I would live in Paris as a child.
2. I didn't used to like vegetables.
3. I am used to eat spicy food now.
4. Did you used to smoke?
5. We would have a big house when I was young.
Show Answers (C)
1. I used to live in Paris as a child. 2. I didn't use to like vegetables. 3. I am used to eating spicy food now. 4. Did you use to smoke? 5. We used to have a big house when I was young.
D. Freer Practice — Write Your Own Sentences (3 tasks)
1. Write a sentence about a past habit using 'used to.'
2. Write a sentence about a past habit using 'would,' about a repeated action, not a state.
3. Write a sentence using 'get used to' about something you had to adjust to.
Show Answers (D)
Model answers will vary. Examples: 1. "I used to play the piano every day." 2. "We would spend hours at the beach every summer." 3. "It took me a while to get used to the new time zone."
9. Mini Quiz
10. Exam Focus — Cambridge, IELTS, SELT
Exam
How This Is Tested
Sample Question
Cambridge B1 Preliminary / B2 First
used to vs would precision, and be used to vs used to, in Use of English transformations.
"When I was young, I lived in Rome." → "I ___ live in Rome." (used to)
IELTS Speaking
Describing past habits and routines is a very common Part 1 and Part 2 topic.
"What did you use to do in your free time as a child?"
Trinity GESE/ISE (SELT)
Talking about childhood, past routines and how life has changed.
"How is your life different now compared to when you were younger?"
11. Frequently Asked Questions
'Used to' can describe both past habits and past states; 'would' can only describe repeated past actions, never states like 'be,' 'have' or 'like.'
No — 'live' is a state, so this needs 'used to': 'I used to live in London.'
'Didn't use to' — with only one 'd,' since the '-ed' belongs to the positive form only.
'Used to' describes a past habit or state that's no longer true. 'Be used to' describes being familiar with something now, and is followed by a noun or gerund, not a base verb.
A noun or a gerund (-ing form): 'I'm used to the noise' or 'I'm used to working late,' never a base verb.
Yes — describing childhood, past routines and how your life has changed is a very common personal-topic question in speaking tests.
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