Describing a Repeated Action in the Past

To talk about something that happened regularly in the past, but does not happen any longer, we use would or used to. Both would and used to can describe repeated actions in the past.


(a) Mij would follow me without a lead and come to me when I called his name.


(b) He would play for hours with a selection of toys.


(c)On his way home... Mij would tug me to this wall.


(d) When I was five years old, I used to follow my brother all over the place.


(e) He used to tease me when mother was not around.


To describe repeated states or situations in the past, however, we use only used to.(We cannot use would for states or situations in the past.) So we do not use would with verbs like be, have, believe, etc. Look at the following sentences.


(a) When we were young, we used to believe there were ghosts in school. (Note: belief shows a state of mind.)


(b) Thirty years ago, more women used to be housewives than now. (Note: be here describes a situation.)


From the table below, make as many correct sentences as you can using would and/ or used to, as appropriate. (Hint: First decide whether the words in italics show an action, or a state or situation, in the past.) Then add two or three sentences of your own to it.


Emperor Akbar




Be fond of musical evening



Every evening we



would



Take long walks on the beach



Fifty years ago, very few people




Own cars



Till the 1980s, Shanghai



Used to



Have very dirty streets



My uncle




Spend his holidays by the sea



(i) Emperor Akbar used to be fond of musical evenings.


(ii) Every evening we used to take long walks on the beach.


OR


Every evening we would take long walks on the beach.


(iii) Fifty years ago, very few people used to own cars.


(iv)Till the1980's Shanghai used to have very dirty streets.


(v) My uncle used to spend his holidays by the sea.


More Example-


(i) Our English teacher used to teach us moral education.


(ii) My mother used to read the Ramayana in the morning.


1
1