used to and would for past habits
Discontinued habits and states with used to, narrative would, and the be/get used to trap
I can describe discontinued habits and states and keep used to apart from be used to.
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
This street used to be quiet — trams would rattle past only twice an hour.
This street used to be quiet — trams would rattle past only twice an hour.
After two winters in Tromsø, I'm used to living in the dark.
After two winters in Tromsø, I'm used to living in the dark.
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
Past habits have two markers and one trap:
| Pattern | Works for | Example |
|---|---|---|
| used to + verb | habits AND states | I used to smoke. There used to be a cinema here. |
| would + verb | repeated actions only | Every summer we would swim before breakfast. |
| be/get used to + -ing | familiarity (different!) | I'm used to getting up early. |
States refuse would: There *would be a cinema here is wrong. Negative: didn't use to.
- would with states: *There would be a cinema here → used to be
- be used to + infinitive: *I'm used to get up → to getting up
- *didn't used to → didn't use to
Common Error Patterns
would with state verbs
States → used to only
be used to + infinitive
be/get used to + -ing (to = preposition)
This street used to be quiet — trams would rattle past only twice an hour.
This street used to be quiet — trams would rattle past only twice an hour.
used to for the state, would for the repeated action.
After two winters in Tromsø, I'm used to living in the dark.
After two winters in Tromsø, I'm used to living in the dark.
be used to + -ing: familiarity, not past habit.
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in B2 course exercises