Used to & would

• “used to” and “would” express habitual actions in the past.

Used to …

• Is followed by the infinitive and is used for actions which no longer happen. It is used for permanent situations as well as habitual actions.

• I used to have a tricycle when I was five years old.

• John used to have long hair before he joined the army.

The negative is didn’t use to

• I didn’t use to go abroad for my holidays before I won the lottery.

Would is….

• Used for past habitual actions which were repeated. “Would” takes an infinitive without “to”.

• I would get up for work at 7, then get the bus at 7:30.

• She would leave her kids with the nanny before she decided to downshift.

Get / Be used to + ing

• This means “to get accustomed to”. It can be used with all tenses and is always followed by a gerund.

• I can’t get used to living in the south. The rain is too hard for me.

Find the mistakes in the following bubbles…

When I was a child, I didn’t used to believe in Father Christmas

When I was a child, a didn’t use to believe in Father Christmas.

Would you have long hair when you were younger?

Did you use to have long hair when you

were younger?

Did you used to watch a lot of TV?

Did you use to watch a lot of TV?

I usedn’t to like classical music but I love it now.

I didn’t use to like classical music but I love it now.

Are you getting used to live in the city now you’ve moved?

Are you getting used to living in the country now you’ve moved?

We’d often to go to look for shells on the beach.

We’d often go to look for shells on the beach.

Do you use to play any sports when you were at school?

Did you use to play any sports when you were at school?

My brother used to frightening me with horrible spiders.

My brother used to frighten me with horrible spiders.

Don’t worry about the noise. I used to it.

Don’t worry about the noise. I’m used to it.