Used to / Would / Be used to

Expressing past habits and states: used to do, would do, be used to doing

intermediate

When to Use

•Used to + base: past habits/states no longer true. I used to smoke. She used to live here.
•Would + base: repeated past actions (not states). We would play in the park every day.
•Be used to + -ing: familiar/accustomed to. I'm used to waking up early.
•Get used to + -ing: becoming accustomed. I'm getting used to the new job.
•Used to for states; would only for actions.

How to Form

Affirmative (+)

Used to + base verb; Would + base verb; Be used to + -ing

Negative (-)

Didn't use to + base; Wouldn't + base; Not used to + -ing

Question (?)

Did you use to...? Would you...? Are you used to...?

💡 Used to (past habit) vs be used to (familiarity) - different structures!

Examples

✓I used to play tennis.

✗I use to play tennis.

Past tense: used to.

✓We would visit grandma every Sunday.

✗We would live in Paris (state).

Would is for actions, not states.

✓I'm used to working late.

✗I'm used to work late.

Be used to + -ing (gerund).

Common Mistakes

💡 Practice Tips

• Used to = past habit/state (no longer true).
• Would = repeated past action (not states).
• Be used to + -ing = accustomed to.
• Get used to + -ing = becoming accustomed.

past-simple past-continuous gerunds-infinitives 📝 verbs-intermediate 📝 used-to-quiz

Used to / Would / Be used to

Expressing past habits and states: used to do, would do, be used to doing

intermediate

When to Use

•Used to + base: past habits/states no longer true. I used to smoke. She used to live here.
•Would + base: repeated past actions (not states). We would play in the park every day.
•Be used to + -ing: familiar/accustomed to. I'm used to waking up early.
•Get used to + -ing: becoming accustomed. I'm getting used to the new job.
•Used to for states; would only for actions.

How to Form

Affirmative (+)

Used to + base verb; Would + base verb; Be used to + -ing

Negative (-)

Didn't use to + base; Wouldn't + base; Not used to + -ing

Question (?)

Did you use to...? Would you...? Are you used to...?

💡 Used to (past habit) vs be used to (familiarity) - different structures!

Examples

✓I used to play tennis.

✗I use to play tennis.

Past tense: used to.

✓We would visit grandma every Sunday.

✗We would live in Paris (state).

Would is for actions, not states.

✓I'm used to working late.

✗I'm used to work late.

Be used to + -ing (gerund).

Common Mistakes

💡 Practice Tips

• Used to = past habit/state (no longer true).
• Would = repeated past action (not states).
• Be used to + -ing = accustomed to.
• Get used to + -ing = becoming accustomed.

past-simple past-continuous gerunds-infinitives 📝 verbs-intermediate 📝 used-to-quiz

Used to / Would / Be used to

When to Use

How to Form

Examples

Common Mistakes

💡 Practice Tips

Related

Used to / Would / Be used to

When to Use

How to Form

Examples

Common Mistakes

💡 Practice Tips

Related

When to Use

How to Form

Examples

Common Mistakes

✗I didn't used to like coffee.

✗She would be tall.

✗I'm used to wake up early.

💡 Practice Tips

Related

When to Use

How to Form

Examples

Common Mistakes

✗I didn't used to like coffee.

✗She would be tall.

✗I'm used to wake up early.

💡 Practice Tips

Related