Using Would and Used to in English Video and Exercise

Using Would and Used to in English Video and Exercise English language learners are often unsure about using would and used to to express past times, so they rarely use them.  If you are an English language learner and you want your speech and writing to sound more natural, learning how to use would and used to for past times will help a lot.Here is an example of a past story by an English language learner:When I was a teenager I went to heavy metal concerts every weekend. I picked up my friends and we took a taxi to the stadium. We saw a different band every weekend. We went to eat after the concert and we arrived home early the next morning around 3 or 4 am. The next day we always slept until 1 in the afternoon. Then we ate Sunday dinner with our family. That was a good time in my life.Now here is that same paragraph but told like a native English language speaker:When I was a teenager I used to go to heavy metal concerts every weekend. I would pick up my friends and wed take a taxi to the stadium. Wed see a different band every week end. Normally wed go eat after the concert. Wed usually get home early the next morning around 3 or 4 AM. The next day wed sleep until 1 in the afternoon and then wed eat Sunday dinner with our family. That was a good time in my life.Notice that the story is introduced by  used to and then the subsequent actions are using would.There are times that would is incorrect in the past:When I was a child I would hate onions. NO. We must only use would in the past for ACTIVE verbs. Confused? Watch the video below and do the exercises.Rewrite the exercises using would or used to. Write your answers in comments, and well respond.1. When I was young I went to my grandmothers farm every summer.2. When I was first married I made breakfast for my husband every morning.3. My husband didnt like eggs for many years.4. She worked at IBM for many years before retiring.5. You ate here a lot during your first year at university. Olga 1. When I was young I would go to my grandmother’s farm every summ er2. When I was first married I would make breakfast for my husband every morning.3. My husband didn’t like eggs for many years.4. She used to work at IBM for many years before retiring.5. You used to eat here a lot during your first year at university. LOIEnglish Excellent work Olga. Number 3, you can use use to in the past with didnt. The correct usage is: My husband didnt use to like eggs. Your sentence is correct as well. We can not use would for past actions. Thanks for answering! Ariana Cella Ribeiro 1. When I was young I would go to my grandmother’s farm every summer.2. When I was first married I would make breakfast for my husband every morning.3. My husband used to didn’t like eggs for many years. ????4. She used to work at IBM for many years before retiring.5. You used to eat here a lot during your first year at university. LOIEnglish ArianaNumber 3 is incorrect. In a negative sentence we use: didnt use to. So the correction is: My husband didnt use to like eggs. simicpetar 1. When I was young I would go to my grandmothers farm every summer. 2. When I was first married I would make breakfast for my husband every morning. 3. My husband used to hate eggs for many years. 4. She used to work at IBM for many years before retiring. 5. You used to eat here a lot during your first year at university.Lets put passive verbs aside for a moment.Did I get it correctly: if we have some kind of introduction in a sentence, e.g. When I was young / When you lived there / When I was your age, then we should use would. And if the verb goes unintroduced â€" then we use used to, as an actual introduction to a sentence (and a whole story afterwards, if there is one).So its:I used to work here., but When I was your age kid, I would work here. LOIEnglish You answered all the questions correctly. We can leave the adverbial time phrases off when we use would or used to. i.g. My husband used to hate eggs. You dont need for many years.In regards to the active or nonac tive verbs. You CANNOT use would with nonactive verbs. You CANNOT say: When I was young I would live with my mother. This is incorrect. You can say: I used to live with my mother.NowYour examplewith WORK as the verb is very tricky. I had to do some research and talk to several of our teachers. Our teacher Dianna had the best explanation of why you CANNOT say: When I was your age kid, I would work here.The verb work in this context is a permanent state rather than an activity. I used to work hereis possible as a past state now discontinued. When I was at university, I would work all night to finish my assignments. This sentence is possible because it is clearly an activity. I would work there every weekend is possible as it is a temporary activity/habit..a part time job.There are a few verbs live and work that can be a permanent state or a temporary action/activity/habit. So you must consider the context in which they are used.I hope this helps! simicpetar It does, definitely! Thank s for the response. And HUGE thanks for the research, I believe we all got your points ?? However, one rule still remains unclear to me, so lets try with a different verb (and e.g. our 5th sentence):Is it You used to eat here a lot during your first year at university., but During your first year at university, you would often eat here. ?We have to use used to in the 1st example, and we have to use would in the 2nd one, am I correct? Elena 1. When I was young I would go to my grandmother’s farm every summer.2. When I was first married I used to do breakfast for my husband every morning.3. My husband used not to like eggs for many years.4. She used to work at IBM for many years before retiring.5. You used to eat here a lot during your first year at university. LOIEnglish Elena,Good work. You have a couple errors. The first is in Number 2: I used to MAKE eggs for my husband. You can have a look at our post about do/make: http://www.skypeenglishclasses.com/skype-english-blog/do-or -make-the-rules-and-a-lot-of-exceptions/Number 3: The correction is: My husband didnt use to like eggs. Notice that I left off the for many years because used to implies that it is a long period of time. Also take note that when we use didnt we drop the D on the end.Number 4: You an drop for many years She used to work at IBM before retiring.Hope this helps! Thanks for answering! Ilka 1. When I was young I used to go to my grandmothers farma every summer.2. When I was first married I used to make breakfas for my husband every morning.3. My husband didnt use to like eggs for many years.4. She used to worke at IBM for many years before retiring5. You used to eat here a lot during your fist year at university. LOIEnglish Ilkavery good. The only mistake I see is that when we use used to we can drop the time references because it becomes redundant. For example: My husband didnt use to like eggs. (dropped for many years) Also: She used to work at IBM before retiring. (dropped for many y ears) Ilka Thank you so much. Can I say the same sentences this way?1. When I was young I would go to my grandmothers farma every summer.2. When I was first married I would make breakfast for my husband every morning.4. She would work at IBM for many years before retiring.