USED TO/WOULD FOR PAST REFERENCE

USED TO
-is the past tense of a modal which has no present tense
a) Affirmative form
USED TO + infinitive of a verb
e.g. She used to be my best friend.
e.g. We used to go out every evening.
b) Negative form
DIDN’T USE TO + infinitive
e.g. She didn’t use to be my best friend.
e.g. We didn’t use to go out every evening.
c) Interrogative form
(question word) +DID +S +USE TO + infinitive
e.g.Did she use to be your best friend?
e.g. Where did you use to go out every evening?

Usage

1. This form represents a discontinued habit or a past

situation which contrasts with the present.
e.g. I used to smoke cigarettes; now I smoke a pipe.
e.g. He used to drink beer- now he drinks wine.
e.g. I used to dislike Tom, now I’m quite fond of him.
e.g. Mary didn’t use to be rich.
2. It can represent a past routine or pattern of behavior. It
does not necessarily mean that it contrasts with the
present, we are simply describing someone’s routine
during a certain period in the past.(Here it can be
replaced by WOULD)
e.g. Every morning Tom used to kiss Ann and set off for
work. Ann used to stand at the window and wave. In the
afternoon….

Note: This form is not to be confused with USED as an

adjective (used, adj= accustomed, habituated.)
e.g I am used to the noise/ to my new situation…

WOULD
1) Both will and would can express a habit or emphasize
characteristics of the performer rather than the action.
e.g. An Englishman will usually tell you the way.
e.g.A true friend will always help you.
 e.g. Tom would do something like that, wouldn't he? It's so
typical of him!

2) These verbs can often express obstinate insistence:

e.g. If you will keep your watch 5 minutes late, no wonder
that you are late, constantly.
e.g. We all tried to stop him from smoking in the bed but he
would do it!

3) The characteristic behaviour emphasized in this way is

often annoying:
e.g. Bill objected. –Oh, he would!

4) Would can replace used to for past routine:

e.g. Every morning Tom would kiss Ann and set off for
work. Ann would stand at the window and wave. In the
afternoon….

With state verbs, however, only used to is possible:

I used to hate dancing in those days.
I would hate dancing in those days.
5) Would is the past equivalent of will for intention but
only in subordinate clauses:
e.g. He said that he would help me. * He would help me.
The negative form (wouldn’t) can be used in both types of
clauses/sentences to express the meaning of intention in the
past:
e.g. He said he wouldn’t help me. / He wouldn’t help me.