Unit 9 OL

​ https://quizlet.com/_czw7g7?x=1jqt&i=332s9x

​The main difference between “used to” and “would”

is that “used to” can be used with both action verbs and stative verbs

“would” is only used with action verbs. 

“Used to” is mainly used to describe repeated actions in the past that no longer happen¹. Therefore, it cannot be used with actions that still happen.

​I used to smoke, but I quit last year. (This sentence describes a past habit that no longer happens.)

• Whenever I craved a cigarette, I would chew gum instead.

  (This sentence describes a past repeated action.)

However, there are two important differences between “used to” and “would”.

The first difference is that “would” should not be used unless it has already been established that the time frame is in the past while “used to” does not require this.

For example:

• I used to watch cartoons every Saturday morning when I was very little. Now I rarely watch TV.

  (This sentence sounds natural.)