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Three structures, one tiny word in common, and a whole lot of confusion. Used to, would and be used to all contain “used” or “to”, but they do completely different jobs. Mix them up and you can end up saying something like “I would have a dog” when you mean you owned one in the past — a classic error.
The good news is that once you understand the logic behind each form, the rules click into place. This guide breaks down all three structures, shows you exactly when to use each one, and explains the single most important rule: why “would” can never describe a past state.
Key Takeaways
- used to + infinitive describes past habits AND past states that are no longer true: I used to smoke, I used to have long hair.
- would + infinitive describes repeated past actions only — never past states: Every summer we would go camping.
- be used to + noun/gerund means “be accustomed to” — a present state of familiarity, not a past habit.
- get used to means “become accustomed to” — a process of change.
- Negatives and questions use the bare form: didn’t use to, did you use to.
Used To + Infinitive: Past Habits and Past States
We use used to + infinitive to talk about things that happened regularly in the past, or situations that were true in the past, but are not true now. This is the most flexible of the three structures because it covers both habits and states.
I used to play the violin. (past habit — I don’t now)
She used to live in Edinburgh. (past state — she doesn’t now)
We used to have a big garden. (past state — possession)
They used to be good friends. (past state — relationship)
The key idea is contrast with the present. When you say “I used to live in Spain,” your listener understands immediately that you no longer live there. The past simple (I lived in Spain) would simply state a fact without that strong implication of change.
After used to you always use the base form of the verb (the infinitive without “to”): used to go, used to have, used to be. It is the same for every subject — there is no “uses to” or “used to goes”.
Would + Infinitive: Repeated Past Actions Only
We can also use would + infinitive to describe repeated actions or habits in the past. In this meaning, would is interchangeable with used to — but only for actions, never for states.
Every winter we would visit my grandparents. (repeated action)
When I was young, I would read for hours. (repeated action)
He would always tell the same joke. (repeated action)
This use of would is especially common in storytelling and nostalgic writing. It paints a picture of recurring events: things that happened again and again over a period in the past.
Why “Would” Cannot Describe Past States
This is the single most important rule in this topic, and the source of most mistakes. Would expresses repeated actions — events that happen over and over. A state (owning, being, knowing, liking, living somewhere) does not “happen” repeatedly; it simply exists continuously. So would sounds wrong with stative verbs.
I would have a car. → say: I used to have a car.
She would be very shy. → say: She used to be very shy.
We would live in London. → say: We used to live in London.
He would like jazz. → say: He used to like jazz.
Notice that all the wrong examples use stative verbs: have (possession), be, live, like, know, believe, love. With these verbs you must use used to. To explore why these verbs behave differently, see our guide to stative verbs.
Before using would, ask: “Is this a repeated action, or a state?” If it is something you did again and again, would is fine. If it describes how things were (owning, being, feeling), switch to used to.
Used To vs Would: Side by Side
used to (habits + states)
- Repeated past actions: I used to jog
- Past states: I used to have a bike
- Works with stative verbs
- Strong “not true now” meaning
- Can open a sentence alone
would (actions only)
- Repeated past actions: I would jog
- NOT past states:
I would have a bike - Avoid with stative verbs
- Common in storytelling
- Usually needs a time reference
One subtle point: would often needs a clear past time frame to feel natural, such as “when I was a child” or “every summer”. Used on its own at the start of a story it can be confusing, because would also has other meanings (the conditional, polite requests). For more on those, see our modal verbs guide and the conditionals guide.
Be Used To + Noun/Gerund: Being Accustomed
Now for a structure that looks similar but means something completely different. Be used to means be accustomed to or be familiar with something. It describes a present state of familiarity — it has nothing to do with past habits.
I am used to the cold. (the cold feels normal to me)
She is used to early mornings. (+ noun)
He is used to getting up early. (+ gerund)
They were used to hard work. (past state of familiarity)
The crucial difference in form: here “to” is a preposition, so it is followed by a noun or a gerund (-ing form) — never a bare infinitive. This is why we say I am used to driving, not I am used to drive.
used to + infinitive vs be used to + gerund
| Structure | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| used to drive | past habit (not now) | I used to drive to work. (but not anymore) |
| be used to driving | accustomed to it (now) | I am used to driving at night. (it’s normal for me) |
| get used to driving | becoming accustomed | I am getting used to driving on the left. |
Get Used To: Becoming Accustomed
Get used to describes the process of becoming accustomed to something, whereas be used to describes the finished result. Like be used to, it is followed by a noun or gerund.
It took me a while to get used to the new software.
You’ll soon get used to living in a big city.
I’m slowly getting used to the time difference.
Think of it this way: you get used to something first (the change), and once that process is complete, you are used to it (the state).
Negatives and Questions with Used To
Because used to refers to the past, negatives and questions are formed with did. And here is the tricky spelling point: after did, we drop the final “-d” and write use to, because did already carries the past tense.
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Negative | didn’t use to | I didn’t use to like coffee. |
| Negative (alt.) | never used to | She never used to worry. |
| Question | did + subject + use to | Did you use to play football? |
| Negative question | didn’t + subject + use to | Didn’t you use to live here? |
Write didn’t use to and did you use to — not used — in careful writing. You will often see didn’t used to informally, but exams expect the bare form because did already marks the past.
Combining Used To and Would
In storytelling, the two forms work beautifully together. Writers often set the scene with used to and then list the recurring activities with would:
We used to spend summers at my grandmother’s house. Every morning we would pick apples, and she would bake a pie.
The opening used to establishes the past situation; the following would verbs describe the repeated actions within it. Just remember the golden rule: every verb after would here is an action (pick, bake), never a state. For more common slip-ups in this area, see our roundup of common English mistakes, and review the full tense system in our grammar tenses guide.
Practise Used To & Would
Test yourself with gap-fill exercises and get instant feedback on every answer.
Complete the SentenceExercises to Practise on LexFizz
- Complete the Sentence — choose used to, would or be used to
- Cloze Dropdown — pick the correct form from a dropdown menu
- True or False — spot correct and incorrect uses of would with states
- Quiz — multiple-choice questions on past habits and states
- Flash Cards — review the three structures with spaced repetition
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Frequently Asked Questions
Used to describes past habits AND past states that are no longer true: I used to smoke (habit) and I used to have long hair (state). Would can describe repeated past actions or habits but NOT past states: Every summer we would go to the seaside is fine, but I would have long hair is wrong. Use would only for repeated actions, never for permanent states like possession, location, beliefs or feelings.
Would expresses repeated or habitual actions that happened again and again. A state such as owning a car, living somewhere, knowing someone, or believing something is not a repeated action — it simply existed continuously. Because a state does not ‘happen’ over and over, would sounds wrong: say I used to have a car, not I would have a car. Stative verbs like have, be, know, like, love and believe therefore take used to, not would.
Be used to means ‘be accustomed to’ or ‘be familiar with’ something. It describes a current state of familiarity, not a past habit: I am used to the cold weather means the cold is normal for me now. It is followed by a noun or a gerund (-ing form): She is used to early mornings or He is used to getting up early. Do not confuse it with used to + infinitive, which talks about the past.
Be used to describes a state — you are already accustomed to something: I am used to the noise. Get used to describes a process — you are in the act of becoming accustomed: I am getting used to the noise. Both are followed by a noun or gerund: get used to driving on the left, be used to spicy food. Get used to emphasises change over time, while be used to emphasises the finished result.
The negative is didn’t use to (note: use, not used, because did already carries the past tense): I didn’t use to like coffee, but now I love it. The form never used to is also common and natural: She never used to worry about money. Avoid didn’t used to in careful writing, although you will sometimes see it informally.
Questions use did + subject + use to: Did you use to play football? Again, it is use to (not used to) because did shows the past tense. You can also ask negative questions: Didn’t you use to live in Manchester? The reply keeps the same logic: Yes, I used to or No, I didn’t use to.
No. Would cannot describe states such as being tall, having something, living somewhere or knowing someone, because these are not repeated actions. I would be tall as a child is incorrect — say I used to be tall or simply use the past simple. Reserve would for repeated past actions: As a child I would climb that tree every day.
Yes, and it is common in storytelling. Writers often introduce a past situation with used to and then continue with would for the repeated actions: We used to spend summers at my grandmother’s house. Every morning we would pick apples and she would bake a pie. The used to sets the scene; the would lists the recurring activities.
In be used to, the word to is a preposition, not part of an infinitive. Prepositions are followed by nouns or gerunds (-ing forms), so we say I am used to driving (not I am used to drive). Compare used to + infinitive for past habits, where to IS part of the infinitive: I used to drive. The two structures look similar but behave very differently.
Practise by: (1) Deciding whether each sentence describes a past habit, a past state, or current familiarity. (2) Choosing between used to and would — remember would cannot take states. (3) Using gap-fill activities such as LexFizz’s Complete the Sentence and Cloze Dropdown to pick the correct form. (4) Rewriting past-simple sentences with used to to highlight change. (5) Practising negatives and questions: didn’t use to, did you use to.
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