used to and would: how things were

What you'll be able to do

Compare your life now with how it used to be (where you lived, what you did as a child, how a place has changed) and talk about getting used to something new, like a new job, city or climate.

used to + infinitive: past habits and states that are no longer true

• I used to play football every weekend.a habit, not now
• There used to be a cinema on this street.a state, it's gone
• Did you use to live in Accra?a question about a past state
• She didn't use to like coffee.she likes it now

In questions and negatives, write use to (after did / didn't).

would + infinitive: repeated past actions (in stories)

Would can replace used to for repeated actions, often once the time is set, as in a memory:

• Every summer we would drive to the coast.a repeated action
• My grandmother would tell us stories at night.a repeated action

Would doesn't work for states: I used to have long hair, not I would have long hair.

be used to / get used to + noun or -ing: familiar or becoming familiar

This is a different meaning: used is an adjective meaning accustomed.

• I'm used to working late.it's normal for me, no problem
• I'm getting used to driving on the left.it's becoming normal
• It took me months to get used to the cold.to become comfortable with it

Common mistakes

• I use to live in Cairo. In the positive past: I used to live in Cairo. (For the present, say I usually…)
• Did you used to smoke? After did: Did you use to smoke?
• I'm used to work at night. After be used to, use -ing: I'm used to working at night.
• I would live in Lima when I was young. Live here is a state: I used to live in Lima.