2024-08-03 Past habits – Tenses with Georgie

USED TO + BASE VERB

Use this for past habits and past states.

• George used to play badminton and tennis, but now he doesn’t have anyone to play with.
• Jiaying used to be in the school choir. 

I used to walk > I didn’t use to walk
You used to walk > You didn’t use to walk
She used to > She didn’t use to walk
He used to walk > He didn’t use to walk
It used to walk > It didn’t use to walk
We used to walk > We didn’t use to walk
They used to walk > They didn’t use to walk

WOULD + BASE VERB

Use this for past habits, not past states (e.g. be, like, love, hate, believe, know). This is often used in stories and has a nostalgic feel. It’s not used in the negative or question forms. 

• When I was at university, I‘d get up really early and then I‘d go to my favourite cafe for a takeaway coffee.
• At secondary school, I got the bus, so I‘d wait at the bus stop with my friends and then we‘d get the bus together.

I would walk > I’d walk
You would walk > You’d walk
She would walk > She’d walk
He would walk > He’d walk
It would walk > It’d walk
We would walk > We’d walk
They would walk > They’d walk

PAST SIMPLE

Use this for past habits and past states.

• When I was at school I played rugby.
• She went to school by bus every day.

I walked > I walked
You walked > You didn’t walk 
She walked > She didn’t walk 
He walked > He didn’t walk 
It walked > He didn’t walk 
We walked > We didn’t walk 
They walked > They didn’t walk