Used to Would Be used to Comparison Exercises

Used to + infinitive — past habit or state

Used to describes a past habit or past state that is no longer true now. It works for both repeated actions and states.

FormExample
Positive: used to + infI used to smoke. (= I smoked regularly — I don't now)
Negative: didn't use to + infShe didn't use to like coffee. (= she likes it now)
Question: Did … use to + inf?Did you use to live near here?
State (not action): used to + infThere used to be a cinema here. (= it doesn't exist now)
No present form: "Used to" only exists in the past. For present habits, use usually / normally / generally: "I usually get up early." NOT "I use to get up early."

Would + infinitive — past repeated habit only

Would can also describe past habits, but only actions — not states. It emphasises the repetitive or typical nature of the habit.

FormExample
Positive: would + inf (habit)Every Sunday, my grandfather would make pancakes for us.
✓ ActionsWe would play in the garden for hours. (= we did this repeatedly)
✗ States (not possible)✗ "There would be a cinema here." → ✓ "There used to be a cinema here."

Be / Get used to + -ing — present familiarity

Be used to means to be accustomed to something. Get used to means the process of becoming accustomed. Both are followed by -ing or a noun — NOT the base infinitive.

FormExample
be used to + -ing / nounI'm used to getting up early. (= it's normal for me now)
get used to + -ing / nounShe's getting used to the cold weather. (= adapting)
Various tensesHe wasn't used to driving on the left. (= he found it strange)
The "to" trap: In "be used to", the word to is a preposition, not part of an infinitive. So it is followed by -ing, never the base form: ✓ "I'm used to waking up early." ✗ "I'm used to wake up early."

Comparison table

FormMeaningWorks withTime
used to + inf Past habit or state (no longer true) Actions + states Past only
would + inf Typical past repeated action Actions only (NOT states) Past only
be/get used to + -ing Accustomed to / adapting to Actions + nouns Any tense

Exercises

Choose the correct form.

1. When I was young, there ___ a big park near our house. (= it doesn't exist now)

2. Every evening, my father ___ a story for us. (= repeated past action, either works but...)

3. After a month, she ___ driving on the left. (= she adapted, it became normal)

4. I ___ working at night — I've done it for years. (= it's normal for me now)

5. She ___ like vegetables as a child. (= she likes them now)

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