Talking about Past Habits in English

Talking about Past Habits in English: Used to, Would, and Past Simple

Talking about past habits in English is an important grammar skill for describing childhood memories, school years and routines that are no longer true. When we remember “the good old days”, we often talk about actions that happened regularly:

I played outside every day.
My grandpa told us stories every evening.
We went to the same place on holiday every summer.

There are three main ways of talking about past habits in English: used to, would and the past simple. Although these forms are similar, they are not always interchangeable. Understanding the differences will help you sound more natural and avoid common mistakes in Cambridge B2 First and C1 Advanced exams.

Let’s make this simple and clear.

Talking about Past Habits with Used To

We use used to + infinitive to talk about past habits and past states that are no longer true now.

• We used to go to Spain every summer when we were kids.
• Sandra used to walk her dog every morning. Now she has a cat.
• People used to write letters much more frequently.

Used to usually suggests that the situation or habit has changed and is no longer true.

Negative form

didn’t use to + infinitive

• We didn’t use to go out much on weekdays.
• Helen didn’t use to be so patient when she was younger.

Questions

Did … use to + infinitive?

• Did Paul use to study French?
• Did your mother use to work in the garden before she retired?

Using Would for Repeated Past Actions

We can also use would + infinitive to talk about repeated actions in the past — very often in stories and memories.

• When I was at school, I would play football every afternoon.
• Mark would cycle to work when he lived in Spain.
• Our grandma would read us a story every night.

This structure often sounds more narrative and is especially common when people describe memories or tell stories.

Very important: would is NOT used for states

We cannot say:

❌ Michael would be the best student in class.

We must say:

✅ Michael used to be the best student in class.

More examples:

• They used to have a cottage in the country.
• I used to love going to the city museum.

(Not: would have, would love in this meaning.)

Talking about Past Routines with the Past Simple

We often use the past simple to talk about repeated actions in the past, especially when the time period is finished or clearly mentioned. 

• We always went to the same place on holiday in the 90s.
• We usually had breakfast in the kitchen and dinner in the dining room.
• Simon frequently changed jobs before he started his own business.
• Fiona didn’t like vegetables when she was a child.

This is very common in stories, biographies, narratives and exam writing.

Comparison table

Used To, Would or Past Simple: Which One Should You Choose?

Here is a simple decision guide:

Use used to when you talk about past habits OR states and they are not true now.

• I used to live in the countryside. (Now I don’t.)

Use would when you talk about repeated past actions, especially in storytelling and NOT for states.

• Every summer, we would go camping.

Use the past simple when you describe a routine during a clearly finished period or when you tell a story.

• When I was a child, we always spent holidays by the sea.

Common Mistakes When Talking about Past Habits

❌ I would be very shy as a child.

✅ I used to be very shy as a child.

❌ We used to go there yesterday.

✅ We went there yesterday.

❌ Did you used to live here?

✅ Did you use to live here?

Download the exercise for this lesson in PDF here

Used to vs be used to

Learners frequently confuse these structures, so a small warning would add real value:

Used to + infinitive: a past habit or situation

• I used to get up early.

Be used to + noun or -ing: be accustomed to something

• I am used to getting up early.

A small style tip for advanced students

Talking about past habits in English is not only a grammar exercise; it is also an important part of storytelling. By using used to, would and the past simple correctly, you can describe memories, routines and past experiences more naturally.

In good writing, you can mix these forms:

• When I was a child, we used to live near the river. Every summer, we would swim there and play until sunset.

Mixing the forms appropriately can make a narrative sound more natural and varied.

Related posts

• Modal Verbs in the Past
• Narrative Tenses in English
• Tenses
• Expressing Probability in English
• B2 First Grammar Lessons 

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