used to + Infinitive/ would + Infinitive

[vil]

Dear teachers,

Would you be kind enough explain to me the difference between the usage of the construction “used to + Infinitive” and “would + Infinitive”?

1. He used to go for a walk in the evening.

2. He would read me every day when I was ill.

3. He used to go to our place to play chess.

4. He would go to the cinema together when we were students.

5. She used to warn me of any danger.

6. They would help us in our work.

Thank you for your efforts.

Regards.

[FONT=&quot]V[/FONT]

 

[vivemafille]

In the sentences you provided, either one is OK. However, in the question form, Did you use to + infinitive is better, especially when the time phrase is omitted:

When I was young, we would go for long walks on the beach?
YES: Did you use to go for long walks on the beach?
Questionable: ??Would you go for long walks on the beach?

With a time phrase:
YES: When you were young, did you use to go for long walks on the beach?
OK: When you were young, would you for long walks on the beach? (This doesn't sound so strange with a time phrase.)

 

[rj1948]

Dear teachers,

Would you be kind enough explain to me the difference between the usage of the construction “used to + Infinitive” and “would + Infinitive”?

1. He used to go for a walk in the evening.Past habit.Not now.Repeated action.


2. He would read me every day when I was ill.Past repeated action.

3. He used to go to our place to play chess.past habit ,actions

4. He would go to the cinema together when we were students.Past repeated actions

5. She used to warn me of any danger.Past repeated actions 6They would help us in our work.Past repeated actions

Thank you for your efforts.

Regards.


Used to-used to indicate past habits,actions,Past state.

Would-used to indicate only about past habits,repeated actions

In the above six sentences used to and would are interchangeable.

I used to be a teacher.(not now) Past state.Would can't be used.
Regards,
rj1948.


[FONT=&quot]V[/FONT]

 

[vil]

Hi rj948,

Thank you for your amazingly understanding the matter in question. Thank you also for your support of my grammar experiment.

In addition to your wonderful explanation I would supplement only one very important particularization.

Used + Infinitive express a repeatedly action or habitual state of the object or person in the past, which are not characteristic of them now.(which no longer happen)
Would + Infinitive express a steadily accomplishing action under given, specific conditions

"I would go to a theatre with my friend. "

In distinction of would+Infinitive, the expressed by used+Infinitive action compares itself usually with the lie of the land.
“I used to go there but now I seldom do it.”

Thank you for your kindness.

Regards.

V.

 

[rj1948]

Hi rj948,

Thank you for your amazingly understanding the matter in question. Thank you also for your support of my grammar experiment.

In addition to your wonderful explanation I would supplement only one very important particularization.

Used + Infinitive express a repeatedly action or habitual state of the object or person in the past, which are not characteristic of them now.(which no longer happen)
Would + Infinitive express a steadily accomplishing action under given, specific conditions

"I would go to a theatre with my friend. "

In distinction of would+Infinitive, the expressed by used+Infinitive action compares itself usually with the lie of the land.
“I used to go there but now I seldom do it.”

Thank you for your kindness.

Regards.

V.

It's very kind of you.

 

[vivemafille]

I'm copying and modifying previous posts:

You can use either used to + base form or would + base form to refer to a past habit, action, or state that was temporary or intermittent.
1. He used to go for a walk in the evening. Past habit. Repeated action. Not now.
or: They would go for a walk in the evening.
2. He would read to me every day when I was ill. Past repeated action.
or: They used to read to me every …
3. He used to come over to our place to play chess. past habit , repeated action
or: He would come over to our …
4. He would go to the cinema together when we were students. Past repeated action
5. She used to warn me about the dangers of smoking.Past repeated action
6. They would help us with our work.Past repeated action


Note:
I used to be a teacher. (not now) Past state.

Wrong: :-(I would be a teacher.:-(
You cannot say would because the action/state was not temporary or intermittent. It was continual.


In the question form, Did you use to + infinitive is better, especially when the time phrase is omitted:
When I was young, we would go for long walks on the beach.
YES: Did you use to go for long walks on the beach?
Questionable: ??Would you go for long walks on the beach?

With a time phrase:
YES: When you were young, did you use to go for long walks on the beach?
YES: When you were young, would you go for long walks on the beach?

 

[ABDALLA ALI]

used to is for states but would is for actions

 

[mmasny]

used to is for states but would is for actions

This isn't true! You can use 'used to' for actions too. I think 'would' could be used to denote states, but I'm not sure.

 

[ABDALLA ALI]

no i am sure it is right,i took it in grade 6 in grammar time

 

[mmasny]

no i am sure it is right,i took it in grade 6 in grammar time

I used to go to school when I was a kid.

Is it wrong in your opinion?

 

[ABDALLA ALI]

here we can use both but we cannot say Mr.jack would be a teacher:down:

MR.jack used to be a teacher:up:
​

 

[ABDALLA ALI]

so???