Have you ever wanted to share a nostalgic memory, talk about an old childhood routine, or describe a past situation that is no longer true? In English, we have three main tools to do this: used to, would, and the past simple.
While they can often be used interchangeably, they have distinct rules—especially when it comes to separating past actions from past states. In this ultimate guide, we will break down exactly how to use these structures with clear examples, handy formulas, and a quick-reference cheat sheet.
Past Habits and States at a Glance
Look at these examples to see how we express past realities that are no longer true today:
- 🏢 Past State (Used to): They used to live in London.
- 🫒 Negative Past Habit (Didn’t use to): I didn’t use to like olives.
- 🏖️ Repeated Past Routine (Would): We would always go to the seaside for our holidays.
- 🏔️ Single Past Event (Past Simple): But one holiday we went to the mountains instead.
1. Used To + Infinitive (Past Habits & States)
We use used to + base verb when talking about things in the past that are no longer true today. This structure is incredibly versatile because it works for both repeated actions (habits) and permanent situations (states).
🏛️ Past States (Situations, Feelings, or Facts)
A past state is a condition that lasted for a long time, rather than an action you physically repeated. You can use “used to” for states, but you cannot use “would.”
- 🗽 We used to live in New York when I was a kid. (Now we live somewhere else).
- 🛒 There didn’t use to be a supermarket there. When did it open?
- 🏡 Did you use to have a garden at your old apartment?
🚴♂️ Past Habits (Repeated Actions)
These are physical routines or habits that occurred regularly in the past but do not happen anymore.
- 🏊♂️ I used to go swimming every Thursday when I was at school.
- 🚬 She used to smoke, but she gave up a few years ago.
⚠️ Grammar Tip: Notice the spelling change in negatives and questions! Because did or didn’t handles the past tense, used to drops its “d” and becomes use to.
- ❌ Incorrect: I didn’t used to like it.
- Correct: I didn’t use to like it.
2. Would + Infinitive (Past Habits Only)
We can use would to talk about repeated actions and behaviors in the past that don’t happen anymore. It is slightly more formal than used to and is frequently used in creative writing, storytelling, and nostalgic descriptions.
📚 Examples in Action
- 🚲 Every Saturday, I would go on a long bike ride into the countryside.
- 🛌 My dad would read me amazing stories every night at bedtime.
- 🐕 Whenever it rained, our old dog would hide under the kitchen table.
🛑 Strict Rules for ‘Would’:
- Actions Only, No States: You cannot use would for past states.
- ❌ Incorrect: I would live in London when I was young.
- Correct: I used to live in London when I was young.
- No Negatives or Questions: We don’t normally use the negative (wouldn’t) or question form of would to express past habits. Stick to used to or the past simple for those!
3. The Past Simple (The Universal Alternative)
You can always use the past simple as an alternative to used to or would for both past habits and past states. However, there are two key differences to keep in mind:
- The past simple doesn’t strongly emphasize that the action was repeated or continuous.
- The past simple alone doesn’t make it instantly clear to the listener that the situation has changed today.
- Past Simple: We went to the same beach every summer. (Neutral factual statement).
- Used To: We used to go to the same beach every summer. (Emphasizes a nostalgic, changed habit).
- Would: We would go to the same beach every summer. (Vivid storytelling tone).
🎯 The Absolute Exception: Single Past Events
If an action happened only once in the past, you must use the past simple. You cannot use used to or would.
- ❌ Incorrect: I used to go to Egypt in 2014.
- Correct: I went to Egypt in 2014. (Single completed event).
🗺️ Past Habits Cheat Sheet
| Structure | Past Action / Habit? | Past State / Fact? | Single Past Event? | Example |
| Used to | Yes | Yes | ❌ No | “I used to have long hair.” |
| Would | Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No | “We would play outside for hours.” |
| Past Simple | Yes | Yes | Yes | “I visited Rome last year.” |
🧠 Test Your Skills Interactively!
Do you know how to choose between used to and would without mixing up your past states and actions? It’s time to find out!
Scroll straight to the top of our interactive grammar terminal on Advanced English Lab and jump into Grammar Test 1. Practice with our custom interactive exercises, get your diagnostic score instantly, and master your English past tenses today!
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