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B1Song 07Intermediate3:00Out Tue 6 Oct, 16:00 UK

Used To vs Would Song

Past Habits & States

Used to or would? Talk about the past you remember in one song: past habits and states that are not true any more. Level B1 (intermediate), for teenagers and adults learning English.

Used to

A state or a habit that's over

“I used to live in Brighton, I used to rent a room.”

Would

Actions, again and again

“On Sundays I would sleep all morning.”

New song · out on YouTube

Tue 6 Oct, 16:00 UK

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Chapters

  1. 0:00Intro
  2. 0:10Chorus: used to or would?
  3. 0:30State or action? I used to live… I would sleep…
  4. 0:49Chorus
  5. 1:09Back in the day: dating before the apps
  6. 1:27Chorus
  7. 1:46Negatives and questions: didn't use to, did you use to…?
  8. 2:05Used to or would? Sing the answer
  9. 2:15Final chorus
  10. 2:34Outro: see you again

Lyrics

Intro

What did you use to do? We would dance all night!

Chorus

I used to have long hair, I used to be so shy, (Used to)

Used to is for habits and for states from days gone by, (Used to)

On Fridays we would dance, and we would stay out late, (Would)

Would is for the actions, but never for a state! (Would)

Verse 1 · State or action?

A state (live, have, be, feel) → used to · Again and again → would

I used to live in Brighton, I used to rent a room, (Used to)

On Sundays I would sleep all morning, then get up at noon! (Would)

I used to have no money, I used to feel so small, (Used to)

So every weekend I would stay home, staring at the wall! (Would)

Chorus

I used to have long hair, I used to be so shy, (Used to)

Used to is for habits and for states from days gone by, (Used to)

On Fridays we would dance, and we would stay out late, (Would)

Would is for the actions, but never for a state! (Would)

Verse 2 · Back in the day

A habit → used to or would · have, be → used to only

Before the dating apps, we used to meet in town, (Used to)

We would talk for hours, we would walk the long way round! (Would)

I used to have a phone that couldn't do much at all, (Used to)

You would ring the house, and my dad would answer every call! (Would)

Chorus

I used to have long hair, I used to be so shy, (Used to)

Used to is for habits and for states from days gone by, (Used to)

On Fridays we would dance, and we would stay out late, (Would)

Would is for the actions, but never for a state! (Would)

Verse 3 · Negatives and questions

I didn't use to … · Did you use to …? Yes, I did.

I didn't use to like coffee, now I drink it all the time, (Used to)

At college I would drink cheap tea and study until nine! (Would)

Did you use to play an instrument? Yes, I did, guitar, (Used to)

I would play on Saturday nights in a little local bar! (Would)

Bridge · Used to or would?

A state → used to only · Again and again → would, or used to

A state? Used to! Be, have, like or know? Used to! (Used to)

Again and again? Would! Or used to? That's fine too! (Would)

Final chorus

I used to have long hair, I used to be so shy, (Used to)

Used to is for habits and for states from days gone by, (Used to)

On Fridays we would dance, and we would stay out late, (Would)

Would is for the actions, but never for a state! (Would)

Outro · See you again

Back then I would … · I used to … but now …

Back then I would learn the rules, I would get them wrong, (Would)

I used to find it hard, but now I sing along! (Used to)

The grammar

Used To or Would?

Used to

used to + base · habits and states, not any more

Use it when: a state or a habit that's over.

From the song

  • I used to live in Brighton, I used to rent a room,
  • I used to have no money, I used to feel so small,
  • Before the dating apps, we used to meet in town,
  • I used to have a phone that couldn't do much at all,

Would

would + base · repeated actions only, never states

Use it when: actions, again and again.

From the song

  • On Sundays I would sleep all morning, then get up at noon!
  • So every weekend I would stay home, staring at the wall!
  • We would talk for hours, we would walk the long way round!
  • You would ring the house, and my dad would answer every call!

Step by step through the song

  1. State or action?

    A state (live, have, be, feel) → used to · Again and again → would

  2. Back in the day

    A habit → used to or would · have, be → used to only

  3. Negatives and questions

    I didn't use to … · Did you use to …? Yes, I did.

  4. Used to or would?

    A state → used to only · Again and again → would, or used to

  5. See you again

    Back then I would … · I used to … but now …

Practice

Test yourself

A state, or an action again and again? Choose the form that fits.

  1. 1.I live in Brighton, I used to rent a room.

  2. 2.On Sundays I sleep all morning, then get up at noon!

  3. 3.I have no money, I used to feel so small.

  4. 4.So every weekend I stay home, staring at the wall!

  5. 5.I have a phone that couldn't do much at all.

  6. 6.You would ring the house, and my dad answer every call!

  7. 7.I like coffee, now I drink it all the time.

  8. 8.Did you play an instrument? Yes, I did, guitar.

0 of 8 answered

More practice with this songHear Remi sing a line, type the missing words, then check the answers and explanations.Used To vs Would exercises

Your turn

What did you use to do on Friday nights?

Use "used to" for a state or a habit, and "would" for an action you did again and again:"I used to live in Brighton. Every Friday we would dance all night!"

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Keep singing

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B1Song 01

Irregular Verbs

36 Verbs Grouped by Sound

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3:36
B1Song 02

Present Perfect vs Past Simple

Have You Ever...?

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3:16
B1Song 03

Irregular Verbs Part 2

36 More Verbs by Sound

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