[B]would or used to?[/B]
When we are telling a story and recollecting an event from long ago, we often
prefer to use [B]would[/B] to describe repeated behaviour in the past, although
both [B]would[/B] and [B]used to[/B] are possible:
[LIST][I]Do you remember what we used to get up to when we were teenagers? How I
would wait for you nearly every afternoon after school and then we would stroll
home together across the park, holding hands, and you would feed the ducks on
the pond while I had a cigarette?[/I]
[/LIST]
Note, Ehtisham, that [B]would[/B] in this sense describes [B]past events and
actions[/B]. It [B]cannot[/B] be used to refer to [B]past states[/B]. To
describe [B]past states[/B] we can only use [B]used to[/B]:
[LIST]
[*][I]I [B]used to live[/B] in that house over there.
(NOT: I would live in
that house over there.)
[/I]
[*][I]I [B]used to own[/B] a 1966 Silver Cloud Rolls Royce.
(NOT I would own
a 1966 Silver Cloud Rolls Royce.)
[/I]
[*][I]I [B]used[/B] sometimes [B]to drive[/B] to work in it.
[/I]
[*][I]I [B]would[/B] sometimes [B]drive[/B] to work in it.[/I]
[/LIST]
