Would vs. Used To: How to Talk About the Past in English

/ B1 English

Learning English often means figuring out small but important differences between words that seem similar. Two phrases that confuse many learners are “would” and “used to.” Both can describe the past, but they are not always interchangeable. In this post, we’ll break down the key differences, give clear examples, and help you use them with confidence.

1. When to Use “Would”

We often use “would” to describe:

✅ Repeated actions in the past

  • Example: When I was a child, my grandfather would tell me stories before bed.
  • Meaning: He told stories many times, as a habit.

✅ Imaginary situations (not real past, but hypothetical)

  • Example: If I had more free time, I would learn another language.

👉 Important Note: “Would” is not used for states in the past (like live, be, have).

2. When to Use “Used To”

We use “used to” to talk about:

✅ Past habits or repeated actions (similar to “would”)

  • Example: I used to play soccer every weekend.

✅ Past states (things that were true but are not anymore)

  • Example: I used to live in Tokyo.
  • Example: She used to have long hair.

👉 Unlike “would,” you can use “used to” with both actions and states.

3. Quick Comparison Table

ExpressionPast Actions (Repeated)Past StatesHypothetical Situations
Would✔️ Yes❌ No✔️ Yes
Used To✔️ Yes✔️ Yes❌ No

4. Practice Examples

Try to decide if the sentence should use would or used to:

  1. When I was a teenager, I ___ spend hours playing video games.
  2. My family ___ live near the beach, but we moved to the city.
  3. Every summer, we ___ visit our cousins in the countryside.
  4. If I won the lottery, I ___ buy a big house.

Answers:

  1. would / used to (both possible)
  2. used to
  3. would / used to (both possible)
  4. would

5. Final Tips

  • If you’re talking about states in the past → use used to.
  • If you’re talking about habits in the past → both would and used to can work.
  • If you’re talking about imaginary situations → only would works.

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