Used to/would

Used to + Infinitive	Would + Infinitive
refers to a past habit or state in contrast to what happens now. They used to travel abroad every summer but now they can't afford it. Negative form: Jane didn't use to have long hair when she was younger. Question form: - Did you use to travel a lot? - Yes, I did.	refers to a repeated action or a typical behaviour in past time in a context already established by a verb in the Past Simple Tense or used to. When I was a boy we always spent/used to spend our holidays on a farm. We would get up at 6 and we'd help milk the cows. Then we'd return to the kitchen for breakfast. Negative form and questions with would are not very common.

Exercise 17. Rewrite the following sentences as positive, negative or a general question according to the instructions.

Example: a. My family used to live on the outskirts of the city. (negative)

My family didn't use to live on the outskirts of the city.

b. People didn't use to think the Earth was flat. (positive)

People used to think that the Earth was flat.

c. She used to go to a really very good school. (question)

Did she use to go to a really very good school?

1. We used to go to the same place for our holidays every year. (negative)

2. He didn't use to have much money. (positive)

3. Kevin used to gamble a lot before he went to prison. (question)

4. They used to do everything together. (negative)

5. When I was a boy, we didn't use to go camping at weekends. (positive)

Exercise 18. Ask special questions about the information in italics.

Example: I used to go to work every other week. - How often did you use to go to work?

1. They used to live in the village in the South of Scotland.

2. Years ago I used to have a motorbike.

3. Mary used to work in a small hospital in Brighton.

4. Everybody used to dislike Sharon because she was too selfish.

5. Sam used to smoke a lot before he fell seriously ill.

6. When I was little, I used to be afraid of the dark.

Exercise 19. Give the correct tag to these sentences. Give short answers.

Example: We used to discuss politics till late at night, didn't we? - Yes, we did.

1. That shop used to be a grocer's a few years ago, __?

2. I used to like History when I was at school, __?

3. Your father didn't use to wear a beard, __?

4. They used to catch the same train every morning, __?

5. You didn't use to spend your days off in the country, __?

Exercise 20. Complete the sentences with the verbs from the box, using used to.

disagree enjoy smoke live go out take

Example: They used to have a small car, but last year they sold it and bought a bigger one.

1. Emily usually stays at home at weekends, but she __ every Saturday.

2. Mr Warner's new office is within fifteen minutes' drive from his house. It __ him about an hour to get to work.

3. George gave up smoking two years ago. He __ like a chimney.

4. They moved to a new flat in the centre last week. They __ in the suburbs.

5. We never liked each other. We __ about everything.

6. I never __ Sundays, but I do now.

Exercise 21. Write these sentences, putting one verb into the correct form of used to and the other into the Past Simple.

Example: I used to smoke (smoke), but I gave it up (give it up) last year.

1. They (live) in London before they (go) abroad.

2. I'm surprised that they (join) the folk music club. They (not/like) folk music.

3. We (have) a garden, but then we (move) to a different house.

4. He (not/travel) much before he (get) this job.

5. I (see) him every week, but then we (have) an argument.

Exercise 22. In some of these sentences you can use used to or would instead of the Past Simple. Where possible rewrite the sentences using used to or would.

Example: a. On Sunday, when we were kids, mother made us pancakes for breakfast.

- On Sunday, when we were kids, mother used to/would make us pancakes for breakfast.

b. I played hockey twice a week that year. - I used to play hockey twice a week that year.

c. Anita made an apple pie for breakfast yesterday morning.

- No change.

1. We lived by a lake, and sometimes Dad took us fishing.

2. When we were kids, we played Cowboys and Indians together.

3. There was an unpleasant incident on the train this morning when a drunk attacked one of the passengers.

4. Some years ago Denis often borrowed money from other people. Now that he is rich, he hardly ever lends anyone a penny!

5. As children they spent a lot of time outdoors.

6. The first time I ever drove a car I parked in a wrong place.

7. I didn't like getting up early when I was very young. To be honest, I still don't like it.