What is the Difference Between Used to and Would?

The difference between "used to" and "would" lies in their usage and the nature of the actions or situations they describe. Both "used to" and "would" are used to talk about things in the past that no longer happen or are not happening now. However, there are some key differences between the two:

1. Nature of actions or situations: "Would" is only suitable for actions or situations that were repeated many times, while "used to" can be used for any action or situation that continued for a period of time in the past, including repeated actions or situations.
2. Stative verbs: "Would" cannot be used with stative verbs such as "be," "understand," and "feel," whereas "used to" can be used with these verbs.

Here are some examples to illustrate the differences:

• I used to live in Manchester, but I moved to London last year.
• When he was at school, he used to play football every Saturday.
• She used to hate her job until she got a promotion.

In these examples, "used to" is used to describe actions or situations that happened regularly in the past but no longer do.

For "would," consider the following example:

• Whenever I craved a cigarette, I would chew gum instead.

In this case, "would" is used to describe a repeated action that happened regularly in the past.

In summary, "used to" can be used for repeated actions, states, and habits, while "would" can only be used for repeated actions. If you are unsure which one to use, it is safer to use "used to" as it has a broader range of applications.

Comparative Table: Used to vs Would

The main difference between "used to" and "would" lies in their usage. Both are used to describe something that happened regularly in the past but doesn't happen anymore. However, there are some restrictions on the usage of "would" compared to "used to". Here is a summary of their differences:

In summary, "used to" is more versatile and can be used for past habits, repetitive actions, and states, while "would" can only be used for repetitive actions. Additionally, "would" should not be used with stative verbs, whereas "used to" can be used with them.