used to
and would
We used to live there, we would go every summer — past habits and past states. Learn the rules, then practise.
Show rules
Form of used to
| example | |
|---|---|
| positive | I used to work there. · He used to be a soldier. |
| negative | I didn't use to work there. · He didn't use to be a soldier. |
| question | Did you use to work there? · Where did he use to live? |
There is no present form of used to. For a present habit, use the present simple: ❌ I use to go to work by bus. → ✅ I go to work by bus.
Don't confuse used to do with be / get used to doing:
- I used to spend time on my own. (= I did, but I don't now.)
- I'm used to spending time on my own. (= I'm comfortable with it.)
used to — past habits and past states
Use used to + infinitive for regular past actions that no longer happen and past states that are no longer true:
I used to take the bus to work every day. · He used to be a soldier.
Frequency adverbs work naturally with used to: I always used to swim before breakfast. We never used to stay up late.
would — past habits only
Use would + infinitive for regular past actions that no longer happen:
When we first moved here, people would stop and talk in the street.
A common pattern: a description starts with used to and continues with would:
When he was younger, he used to go on difficult expeditions and he would take risks ...
would is only for past actions, not states: ❌ France would have a king. → ✅ France used to have a king.
used to or past simple?
Use past simple (not used to) for:
- a single completed action: ❌ I used to have an exam last week. → ✅ I had an exam last week.
- a specific period: ❌ He used to be in Greece for two years. → ✅ He was in Greece for two years.
- a specific number of times: ❌ We used to swim twice. → ✅ We swam twice.
Use used to when you want to emphasise the contrast between past and present: My sister works in an office now, but she used to work on a farm.
Common mistakes
| ❌ | ✅ |
|---|---|
| I didn't used to like coffee. | I didn't use to like coffee. |
| Did you used to play tennis? | Did you use to play tennis? |
| People today use to spend hours online. | People today spend hours online. |
| France would have a king. | France used to have a king. |
| I used to have an exam yesterday. | I had an exam yesterday. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between used to and would?
Both describe regular past actions that no longer happen: 'We used to go / would go for a walk every Sunday.' The difference: 'would' is only for past actions, but 'used to' also works for past states. Say 'France used to have a king' (not 'France would have a king'), because 'have a king' is a state.
Is it 'didn't use to' or 'didn't used to'?
The standard form is 'didn't use to' — no -d after 'use', because the auxiliary 'did' already carries the past meaning. Same for questions: 'Did you use to ...?' not 'Did you used to ...?'. The variant 'didn't used to / did you used to' exists in informal English, but 'didn't use to / Did you use to' is the textbook form.
When do you use past simple instead of used to?
Use past simple for a single event ('I had an exam last week', not 'I used to have an exam last week'), for a specific period with a duration ('He was in Greece for two years'), and for a specific number of times ('We swam in the pool twice'). 'Used to' is for general past habits and states without a fixed duration or count.
Why is 'I use to play tennis' wrong for the present?
There is no present form of 'used to'. For a current habit or routine, use the present simple: 'I play tennis every Sunday.' Don't confuse this with 'be / get used to + -ing' (= accustomed to), which is a different structure: 'I'm used to playing tennis on Sundays' (= I'm comfortable with it).