Questions tagged [past-habitual]

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Would for repeated situations

I was reading a book when I encountered the following excerpt: But even when they were out of their cell, they still wouldn't be able to touch anybody else. You'd see them playing "horse", ...
Penguin422's user avatar
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"Would" for Habitual Actions

I would like to ask if the first "would" in this sentence is correct: "Every time she would come to our house, she would talk to Mom about that subject."
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Always" "usually" "often" "sometimes" "never"

Usually we use words like "always" "usually" "often" "sometimes" "never" in present passive as in "He is always given a surprise" and past ...
Bilal Zafar's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
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Use of "would" for past repeated actions?

I have heard peo­ple us­ing both of these fol­low­ing sen­tences while talk­ing about some past re­peated ac­tions, but the first one sounds a bit un­gram­mat­i­cal, be­cause I have never seen this ...
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3 answers
653 views

Used to have or had?

What is the difference between: I didn't use to have a phone AND I didn't have a phone Maybe the first option is not correct at all? I will be grateful for explanation :).
Agnieszka Malada's user avatar
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Would to express habitual actions in past

In Portuguese, there is a specific verbal form in past tense for when one expresses habitual actions in past tense. In English, however, we must use Would. Its usage is more a matter of "how we speak" ...
Davyd's user avatar
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Using "would" in questions to ask about past habits

I know the difference between used to and would. I've seen many examples of used to in questions, but I'm not sure if I've seen any for would. Are these questions correct to ask about someone's past ...
Yuri's user avatar
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Usage of would while telling stories happened in the past

I was watching Ricky Gervais's stand up show, and this usage of "would" kind of confused me. Why is he using "would" while telling a story happened in the past? I have seen this usage being used ...
Talha Özden's user avatar
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How to talk about my new habit?

I started playing football daily last month. How to describe that now? Can I say (I have started playing football daily recently)
Ahmed's user avatar
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1 answer
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Choosing the correct option to describe a past habit

How should I know which one to choose? When she was a girl, my mom would / used to live in a village. I'd say used to, and that's what's marked as answer. But it's also confusing me - I could as ...
user3132457's user avatar
-1 votes
1 answer
2k views

"Used to" vs. "would": how to define "a state in the past"

Long story short: trying to simplify the rule about being able or unable to use "would" in place of "used to" when talking about the past, I got this: We don't use "would" in place of "used to" ...
R.I.P.30.12.21Baskakov_Dmitriy's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
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How to Identify Habitual Simple past tense (Repetitive) and Simple past tense

There were always a couple of people who put their hands up right away, usually girls, usually from the town kids who dressed up for school. They sat in the front of every class, boys and girls ...
user4084's user avatar
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2 votes
3 answers
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Why wasn't "When I was in Sharm El-Sheikh, I *have sunbathed* a lot" a good answer?

When I was in Sharm El-Sheikh, I .... a lot A) Have sunbathed B) Was sunbathing C) Would sunbathe D) Sunbathed why it can't be "have sunbathed" as verb sunbathe means to make the skin brown or ...
Ehab Mansour's user avatar
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2 answers
137 views

Past Perfect for completed past

I went to see my friend in the hospital but he had been alredy discharged from hospital and went to his home. So I went to his home. Can I say ? 1) I had gone to see you in the Hospital but doctor ...
user4084's user avatar
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1 answer
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How to differentiate Past Simpe Tense and Past Habits / Generalisation while reading?

Past Simple can be use to describe past habits same as would and use to. Hence, I am getting difficulties to differentiate and understand the meaning of Simple past tense or Past habits while reading. ...
user4084's user avatar
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1 vote
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Is "I was used to come here ... " grammatically correct?

I lived in the United States from 2013 to 2014. When I was living there, I went to a church every weekend. I will visit the USA and come to this church next year. When I get there, someone will ...
Murilo's user avatar
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3 votes
4 answers
177 views

Would and used to

I would eat well when I was a child. I used to eat well when I was a child. Is there any difference in the meaning between these two sentences.
ameen's user avatar
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1 answer
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"time clause problem " with when

"What if my wife were the daughter of the head of the electricity department of my district?" "She would get the threat of divorce every time [that is, when or whenever] the electricity ...
dz420's user avatar
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2 votes
3 answers
257 views

"Used to" with multiple verbs

Which of the following 3 options is correct, assuming that she doesn't work anymore (and of course she doesn't drink tea before work anymore as she doesn't work anymore): She used to drink tea and ...
MIEP Family's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
3k views

"Used to" vs "Use to"

Is use to incorrect because we use present tense if we talk present habit? What is the difference between the two sentences below? I am used to GETTING up late in the morning. I am used to GET up ...
Dani's user avatar
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5 votes
2 answers
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Differences between "used to" and "would"?

I read somewhere that "used to" usage is for "past habits" and "would" usage is for "past habits and states" and we should only use "used to" for states. Is this true? Suppose that we have this ...
user2991243's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
520 views

Differences between "would" and "used to" when we are talking about habit

What is the differences between use "would" vs "used to" I used to play football when I was a child. I would play football when I was a child.
lolocripto's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
8k views

What is a difference between "used to" and 'past simple'?

What is a difference between: I used to smoke. vs. I smoked. I used to be a teacher. vs. I was a teacher. I know that used to expresses a habitual action in the past but so can the past simple. So, ...
user1425's user avatar
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4 votes
1 answer
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Why does the missing word in this passage(only one word for each blank) have to be "would", and what's the logic of the sentence?

…I used to run with them, and had great fun; we used to gallop all together round and round the field as hard as we could go. Sometimes we had rather rough play, for they _____ frequently bite and ...
dennylv's user avatar
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5 votes
2 answers
5k views

"be used" v. "get used"

I was used to working long hours. I got used to working long hours. What meaning do the verbs be and get have here? My textbook doesn't explain it. But from the examples they're used in, I have an ...
mosceo's user avatar
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