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Can I use 'would' or 'used to' for past habits? Examples with my childhood routine

Asked bySam SentencePosted Mar 22, 2026 11:16 AM3 answers15 upvotesCanonical URL

Hi everyone, I'm writing a paragraph about my childhood, and I'm feeling confused about when to use 'used to' and 'would' for past habits. For example, I want to talk about how my family always had dinner together every night. Should I say, "We used to eat dinner together every night" or "We would eat dinner together every night"?

Also, what if I want to mention something that only happened once, like "I used to visit my grandma during the summer"? Is it correct to use 'would' here too? I want to make sure I’m describing repeated actions from my past correctly in my writing. Any advice would be really helpful!

Context:
For a narrative writing assignment (intermediate, American English)

#used-to-vs-be-used-to#past-simple#modal-verbs

What to Know

What to KnowWhy It MattersExampleQuick Check
For something that happened only once or infrequently, use the simple past, not 'would' and usually not 'used to': I visited my grandma during the summer.Both are fine for repeated actions, so you could say, We used to eat dinner together every night or We would eat dinner together every night.I used "'would'" because it matched the meaning in my sentence.Does this sentence need 'would' or 'used to' for past habits based on my intended meaning?
Writers often treat 'would' and 'used to' for past habits as interchangeable even when context and meaning differ.This helps you choose wording by meaning instead of surface form.I used "'used to' for past habits" because the context required that meaning.Did I choose this form for meaning, not because it looked familiar?

3 Answers

ByCoach LeeMar 22, 2026 11:36 AM6 upvotesAccepted answer

For describing past habits, it's helpful to remember two patterns:

Pattern 1: 'Used to' + base verb

  • Use this for actions or states that happened repeatedly or continuously in the past, but no longer happen now.
  • Example: I used to ride my bike to school.

Pattern 2: 'Would' + base verb

  • Use this for repeated past actions (not states), especially when adding more detail or telling a story. 'Would' cannot describe past states (like 'know,' 'like,' 'be').
  • Example: Every Sunday, we would visit my aunt.

Notice:

  • Both are fine for repeated actions, so you could say, We used to eat dinner together every night or We would eat dinner together every night.
  • For something that happened only once or infrequently, use the simple past, not 'would' and usually not 'used to': I visited my grandma during the summer.

Practice:
Check your sentence. If you can turn it into a repeated action and it isn’t a state verb, 'would' works. For example: When I was a child, I would play outside every afternoon.

Corrective feedback:

  • Don't use 'would' for single events or states: I would have a bicycle (incorrect for a past state); I would visit my grandma last summer (incorrect for a single visit).
  • Use 'used to' or the simple past for actions/states depending on context.
ByClaire CopydeskMar 22, 2026 12:16 PM5 upvotes

Think about the context:

For repeated actions (habits):

  • Both 'used to' and 'would' can work, especially if you want to add a storytelling tone with 'would.'
  • Example: During summer days, I would swim for hours in the lake. OR I used to swim every summer afternoon.

For past states:

  • Only 'used to' works.
  • Example: I used to be very shy in school.

For events that happened only once or rarely:

  • Use the simple past.
  • Example: I went to the amusement park with my cousin last summer.

Try it:
Write two sentences about your childhood: one using 'used to,' one using 'would,' and one in the simple past. Check:

  • Is the action a repeated habit? (OK for 'used to'/'would')
  • Is it a state or single event? (Simple past or 'used to' only)

Feedback:
If a sentence with 'would' sounds strange, ask yourself if it's a repeated action. Change 'would' to 'used to' or simple past as needed.

ByMaya ModeratorMar 22, 2026 11:56 AM4 upvotes

Let's compare 'used to' and 'would' directly:

'Used to':

  • Used for past habits and past states (feelings, situations).
  • Example: I used to love watching cartoons in the morning.

'Would':

  • Used only for past repeated actions, not states. Often found in storytelling to show things done regularly.
  • Example: On Saturdays, my father would make pancakes for breakfast.
  • Wrong: I would love cartoons when I was little. (Use 'used to love')

For a single event, neither is correct. Use simple past:

  • Correct: I visited my grandma once during the summer.

Practice:
Read your sentences aloud and ask: Is this a repeated action from my past? Is it a state or a feeling? Try switching between 'used to' and 'would' and notice which sounds natural for each.

Corrective feedback:
If you find a sentence with 'would' describing a state (e.g., "I would be shy as a child"), change it to 'used to.' If the event wasn't regular or repeated, use the simple past.

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