B1-B2
Used to vs Would vs Past Simple
Navigate past habits, repeated actions, and completed events
Key Differences
🇬🇧 English
Used to: Past habits/states.
Would: Repeated past actions (not states).
Past Simple: General completed actions.
🇫🇷 Français
Used to: Habitudes passées.
Would: Actions répétées dans le passé.
Prétérit simple: Actions terminées en général.
Detailed Comparison
| Aspect | Used to | Would | Past Simple |
|---|---|---|---|
| Use | Past habits and states (now finished) | Repeated past actions (not states) | General completed actions |
| States vs Actions | Both states and actions | Only actions (not states) | Both states and actions |
| Example - State | I used to live in London | ❌ I would live in London | I lived in London |
| Example - Action | I used to play football | I would play football every day | I played football yesterday |
| Time reference | General past (no specific time) | Often needs time context | Can be specific or general |
Common Mistakes
I would live in London when I was a child.
I used to live in London when I was a child.
Use 'used to' for past states, not 'would'
She used to go there yesterday.
She went there yesterday.
Use Past Simple for specific past times, not 'used to'
Would you smoke when you were young?
Did you use to smoke when you were young?
Use 'used to' in questions about past habits