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Lesson Plan February 23, 2024
Topic: Used to vs Would
used to + infinitive
We use used to + infinitive when we talk about things that happened in the past but do not happen now. In the negative we say didn’t use to + infinitive:
I used to live in a large city, but now I live by the seaside.
I didn’t use to go swimming everyday.
Did you use to live in a small or large city?
We can use this structure with both states and actions:
(STATE) Paul used to be very calm when he was younger. Now he’s stressed all the time.
(ACTION) Paul used to work full-time, but now he only takes on part-time jobs.
would + infinitive
When we are telling a story or recalling a situation from a long time ago, we often prefer to use would to describe repeated behaviour in the past, although both would and used to are possible:
I remember growing up in the countryside. It was a peaceful and simple life. I would pick vegetables every day and from time to time I would feed the chickens with my mother.
Note that would can only describe past events and actions. It is not usually used with states. To describe past states we can only use used to:
Paul used to be very calm when he was younger. Now he’s stressed all the time. (NOT Paul would be very calm)
Lesson Notes
Rain has a lot of fresh air.
Rain brings a lot of fresh air.
Vocabulary
Much / Many / Any; often are used in questions and negative sentences
Bear; (verb) (of a tree or plant) produce (fruit or flowers)
Literacy; the ability to read and write
Illiteracy; the inability to read and write
Used To vs Would
Would can be used to express an action that was repeated regularly in the past; this has the same meaning as “used to”
When I was a child, my father would read me a story at night before bedtime.
When I was a child, my father used to read me a story at night before bedtime.
Used to expresses an habitual situation that existed in the past; this isn’t repeated but was always true.
I used to live in California. (= I lived in California)
He used to be a Boy Scout. (= He was a Boy Scout)
They used to have a smaller house. (= They had a smaller house)
Exercise - Past Habits and Repeated Actions
When I was a child I _____ like peanuts.
a. didn’t use to
b. wouldn’t
c. both are possible
- We can use used to + infinitive to talk about situations or states which were true in the past
- We can only use would to talk about repeated actions in the pastIn the morning he _____ sit on the front porch and read.
a. used to
b. would
c. both are possible
- This is a past habit or repeated action, so both can be usedWhich sentence is NOT correct?
a. I would go shopping with her every Friday.
b. I would have very blond hair.
c. She would call me after class to chat.
- Have blond hair is a state, not a past repeated action. Only used to can be used.I _____ wear glasses when I was at university.
a. didn’t use to
b. wouldn’t
c. both are possible
- Wear glasses is a past state or continuous action, not a repeated action. Only used to can be used.When the weather was bad, I _____ stay home and read comic books.
a. used to
b. would
c. both are possible
- This is a past repeated action, so both can be used.How many friends _____ have?
a. did you use to
b. would you
c. both are possible
- This is a past state, not a past repeated action. Only used to can be used.Which sentence is NOT correct
a. I didn’t use to like cheese when I was younger.
b. I didn’t use to walk home after school.
c. As a child, I would hate having to get up early.
- Hate, love etc are past states, not a past repeated action. Only used to can be used.When I was a child, we _____ live in the countryside.
a. used to
b. would
c. both are possible
- This is a past state, not a past repeated action. Only used to can be used.On Sundays, my mom _____ wake us up and cook pancakes.
a. used to
b. would
c. both are possible
- This is a past repeated action, so both can be used.My brother and I _____ fight all the time.
a. used to
b. would
c. both are possible
- This is a past repeated action, so both can be used.
