Hi, Wojtek. Good question - a lot of students have trouble with the difference between 'used to' and 'would'. We use both of these to talk about things in the past which we don't do now or are not happening now. Sometimes both 'used to' and 'would' are OK in one sentence - sometimes only 'used to'. Let's start with some examples of 'used to' first. We might say, "I used to live in Manchester, but I moved to London last year." "When he was at school, he used to play football every Saturday." "She used to hate her job until she got a promotion." All of these sentences describe actions or situations in the past, which are finished now; living in Manchester, playing football every Saturday, hating her job - these are all finished now. We use 'used to' to talk about actions or situations that continued for some time in the past, not for events which happened suddenly or just for a moment. So we can't say: 'I used to have a really good idea when I was brushing my teeth this morning,' because 'having a really good idea' happens suddenly - in one moment. Now let's move on to 'would'. Here are some examples: "When he was at university, he would sleep until noon at the weekends." "My sister lived in Australia for many years, but she would always come home for Christmas." "I would always forget my homework, until the teacher threatened to punish me." Again, these sentences are about situations in the past, which are finished. However, it's important to notice that all the sentences, here, are about actions or situations which were repeated again and again and again. Sleeping until noon at the weekends, coming home for Christmas, forgetting my homework - all these things were repeated many times, again and again and again. This is the difference between 'would' and 'used to' - We only use 'would' to describe actions or situations that were repeated again and again and again... But we use 'used to' for any extended action or situation in the past. 'Would' is only good for actions or situations that were repeated many times; 'Used to' is good for any action or situation that continued for a period of time in the past, including repeated actions or situations. To make this clearer, let's look at the three examples of 'used to' sentences, and see if we can change them into 'would' sentences.

Here's the first example again: "I used to live in Manchester, but I moved to London last year." Can we use 'would' instead of 'used to' here? No, we can't, because 'living in Manchester' wasn't repeated again and again and again. It's simply a situation in the past. Therefore, only 'used to' is good in this sentence. The second example again: " When he was at school, he used to play football every Saturday." Here, we're talking about 'playing football every Saturday'. This is an action that was repeated many times, so we can also say: "When he was at school, he would play football every Saturday". 'Used to' and 'would' are both good here, and the meaning is the same. Finally, the third example again: "She used to hate her job until she got a promotion." Did she 'hate her job' many times? No, this isn't a repeated action, so in this example 'would' isn't possible. We have to use 'used to'.

Rachel Wicaksono answers: Hello Carol! I've got a short answer to your question - and that's no! We can't say: "I would have a lot of fun when I was younger". As for why, that might take a little longer to explain! Actually, your question pretty much explains the main reasons why your sentence isn't quite right. So, I'll just confirm your ideas and mention a few examples. "Would", as you correctly suggest, is an auxiliary verb that can be used to talk about habitual actions - things that we do regularly. But "would" can also be used to talk about temporary or repeated events in the past. "Used to" and the simple past are also possible ways to talk about things we used to do in the past quite regularly. Here's an example of each of the three forms: "When I was a child I used to visit my Grandma once a week. She 'd let me stay up late and watch TV. I loved our special days together." Now, whenever we're describing habitual actions and temporary or repeated events in the past, it's a good idea to try to vary our choice between "used to", "would" and "the past simple" - just to make our descriptions a bit more interesting! So that's what "used to" and

"would" have in common - but what about the differences? Well, I think that there are probably three main differences in the way we use "would" and "used to" to talk about the past ... Firstly, only "used to" is used to describe permanent states in the past. For example: "My grandma used to live in Indonesia." "Would" is not used to describe permanent states in the past. So, while we can say: "We used to live in York" - because this describes a permanent or extended state We can't say: "I would live in York", because that has a different meaning. Secondly, and I think this is the reason why "I used to have a lot of fun when I was younger" is better than "I would have lots of fun when I was younger." It's because we generally use "would" ONLY when the past time and the topic have already been established, or understood. In the second sentence: "I would have lots of fun when I was younger" - they're not. So we can say: "I used to have a lot of fun when I was younger. We would spend hours playing football in the street," because here, we've established the past time and the topic by using "used to" or an expression like, "when I was a child" or "many years ago". The third difference between "used to" and "would" is that "would" is often used with frequency adverbs, for example: "always", "usually" and "sometimes". For example: "When I was a child, I would sometimes feel afraid of the dark. Usually, I'd read until I fell asleep. And I would always leave the light on!" So, just to summarise, both "used to" and "would" can be used to talk about habits, events and temporary states in the past. However, only "used to" can describe permanent states. I hope this helps, Carol ... have fun!

Solía

Para decir “solía” en inglés se puede usar “would” y “used to.” Se usa “would” sólo para acciones y “used to” para acciones y estados.

Solía con acciones en el pasado:

• Solía hacer ejercicio todos los días.

o I would exercise everyday.

o I used to exercise everyday.

Solía con estados en el pasado:

• Él solía tener paciencia.

o He would have pacience.

o He used to have pacience.

Cuidado con “Would”

“Would” tiene otros significados y se puede confundir con “solía”.

• I would work.

o Solía trabajar.

o Trabajaría.

No se puede usar “would” en negación para decir “solía”.

• I wouldn’t work.

o No quise trabajar.

o No trabajaría.

Acostumbrar y Acostumbrarse

Acostumbrar – to BE used to something

• Estoy acostumbrado al olor. – I am used to the smell.

• Ella estaba acostumbrada a vivir sola. – She was used to living alone.

Acostumbrarse – to GET used to something

• Me acostumbré al olor. – I got used to the smell.

• Ella se acostumbrará a vivir sola. – She’ll get used to living alone.

Used to (Soler - Estar acostumbrado a)

El verbo "use" significa "usar" o "utilizar". Sin embargo, cuando utilizamos este verbo en el pasado simple, más la preposición "to", como verbo modal, el significado cambia. Además, se puede utilizar "used to" como adjetivo. A continuación tienes una explicación de los usos diferentes.

To used to (Soler)

El verbo modal "used to" se emplea para indicar algo que occuría o pasaría en el pasado de manera habitual. También, se utiliza para algo que antes era verdad pero ya no lo es. Como con los otros verbos modales, "used to" está seguido por la forma base del verbo (el infinitivo sin "to").

Structure (Estructura)

Affirmative Sentences (Frases afirmativas)

Estructura Sujeto + "used to" + verbo...

Ejemplos:

We used to go to the beach every summer when I was young. (Cuando era joven solíamos ir a la playa cada verano.)

He used to smoke a pack of cigarettes a day, but he quit last year. (Solía fumar un paquete de cigarrillos al día, pero lo dejé el año pasado.)

I used to like mushrooms, but not anymore. (Me solían gustar las setas, pero ya no.)

There used to be a great restaurant here, but it closed a few years ago. (Había un gran restaurante aquí, pero cerró hace unos años.)

Negative Sentences (Frases negativas)

Estructura Sujeto + "didn't" + "use to" + verbo...

Ejemplos:

I didn't use to like mushrooms, but now I do. (No me solían gustar las setas, pero ahora si.)

Food didn't use to be so expensive. (La comida no solía ser tan cara.)

We didn't use to go away on holiday very often when I was young. (No solíamos ir de vacaciones a menudo cuando era joven.)

Interrogative Sentences (Frases interogativas)

Estructura "Did" + sujeto + "use to" + verbo...?

Ejemplos:

Didn't he use to smoke a lot? (Él solía fumar mucho, ¿no?)

Did you use to live here? (¿Vivías aquí antes?)

Did they use to go to the beach in the summers? (¿Solían ir a la playa durante los veranos?)

Nota: No utilizamos "used to" para acciones habituales en el presente. En vez de este verbo modal, se usa un adverbio como "usually" o"normally" por ejemplo.

Ejemplos:

We usually go to the beach every summer. (Solemos ir a la playa cada verano.)

He normally smokes a pack of cigarettes every day. (Normalmente él fuma un paquete de cigarrillos cada día.)

They usually play football on the weekends. (Suelen jugar a fútbol los fines de semana.)

Nota: También se puede utilizar el verbo modal "would" para eventos o acciones repetidas en el pasado. Pero ten en cuenta que sólo se puede usar con acciones, no con estados o hábitos. Tampoco se puede utilizar "would" en el negativo. Para información de los otros usos de "would" ver las lecciones de frases condicionales y los verbos modales.

Ejemplos:

When I was young, we would go to the beach every summer. (Cuando era joven Solíamos ir a la playa cada verano.)

At the university, they would play football every weekend. (En la universidad, ellos solían jugar a fútbol cada fin de semana.)

He would smoke a lot.

When I was young we wouldn't go to the beach every summer.

To be used to (Estar acostumbrado a)

Cuando se utiliza "used to" como adjetivo significa "estar acostumbrado a". Se usa para cosas que son familiares, normales o comunes y se puede usar en cualquier tiempo verbal. Cuando "to be used to" está seguido por un verbo, el verbo tiene que ser en el gerundio ("-ing").

Ejemplos:

She's used to living alone. (Ella está acostumbrada a vivir sola.)

We weren't used to traveling a lot. (No estábamos acostumbrados a viajar mucho.)

I'm not used to this cold weather. (No estoy acostumbrado a este frío.)

Nota: Cuando utilizamos el verbo "get" en vez de "be" indica el proceso de familiarizarse con algo. Ver la lección de "to get" para más información sobre este verbo.

Ejemplos:

They divorced over 2 years ago. She has gotten used to living alone. (Se divorciaron hace más de 2 años. Ella se ha acostumbrado a vivir sola.)

With this new job I am getting used to traveling a lot. (Con este nuevo trabajo me estoy acostumbrando a viajar mucho.)

You need to get used to this cold weather if you are going to live here. (Necesitas acostumbrarte a este frío si vas a vivir aquí.)

¿Cuál es la diferencia entre "would" y "used to"? Would. Entre los significados y usos "would" se encuentra uno que quizás no conozcas. "Would" se puede utilizar para hablar del "pasado". Sí, como lo has leído. "Would" no sólo se utiliza para hacer el condicional, sino que también se puede usar para hablar del pasado. ¿Cuándo se usa con significado de pasado? Se usa "would" para hablar en pasado cuando hablamos de acciones que realizábamos en el pasado de forma repetitiva. Equivale al "pretérito imperfecto" en español. Por ejemplo: -Cuando yo era niño jugaba al fútbol con mis amigos en el colegio. When I was a boy I would play football with my friends at school. "would play" es jugaba. - Ella venía a mi casa todos los miércoles para ver la televisión. She would come to my house every Wednesday to watch television. Recuerda: Se utiliza "would" para hablar de acciones que ocurrieron en el pasado de forma repetitiva. ¡Ojo! "Would" solo se utiliza con verbos de movimiento. Cómo se diferencia "would" de "used to" Would hace una función similar a la de "used to", pero existe una gran diferencia. "Would" SOLO se puede usar con verbos de movimiento, por ejemplo, play, sing, walk, come, go, etc. "Used to", en cambio, se puede usar con todo tipo de verbos. Recuerda que "used to" se puede traducir por "Yo solía, tú solías hacer....." Y también por "Antes yo hacía, yo comía, etc." Ejemplos: - I used to think that she was married. Antes yo creía que ella estaba casada. Nota: NO puedo

decir "I would think that....." porque "Think" no es un verbo de movimiento. Es, en cambio, un stative verb. -They used to have a boat. Antes ellos tenían un barco. Nota: NO puedo decir " They would have a boat". Recuerda: "would" en pasado SOLO se utiliza con verbos de movimiento y se traduce al español como el pretérito imperfecto: yo comía, él dormía, nosotros jugábamos, etc. Y "used to" también se puede traducir como "pretérito imperfecto en español" o "como "solía hacer...", se puede utilizar con verbos de movimiento y de estado (stative verbs) que son esos verbos que normalmente nunca se utilizan en tiempo continuos.