So we use "used to" to... that sounds awful... So we use "used to" to talk about past habits,
past routines and past states. We also use "would" to talk about past habits, past
routines and sometimes past states. How do we know which one to use and why
do we have two ways to say the same thing? My name is Toby, this is SMASH
English and here is all you need to know about "used to" and "would" for the B2 First
Cambridge exam.
Let's start with the basics. We can use subject + used to + infinitive to talk
about past routines, habits or states. For example: I used to be fat. This means in
the past I was fat but I'm not fat now. I used to go to school. This means in
the past I regularly went to school but I don't now. I used to smoke. This means
in the past I smoked but now I don't. We can also use this in the negative form
to talk about something that is true now that wasn't true in the past. I didn't
used to be fat. That means I am fat now but in the past I wasn't. I didn't used
to go to school. That means I go to school now but in the past I didn't. And
I didn't used to smoke. That means I smoke now but in the past I was not a
smoker. I didn't used to like English but then I found smash English and now I
love it. Because you love it so much you're going to subscribe! Yes? Yes! The
important thing to remember here is that we use "used to" for past routines, states
and habits. To put it simply, when you want to talk about something that was
true in the past but is not true now be it a state, a habit, a routine, use
"used to". It is always correct. But then we have "would", to make your lives more
difficult but also to improve your English! So be thankful that "would" exists
because English people love using "would" for past habits, routines and sometimes
states. Yeah. Firstly the grammar is subject + would
+ infinitive or the negative form: subject + would not + infinitive.
Yeah, it's not very difficult. Now, I'm English and I use "would" a lot
more than I use "used to". Why? Because I'm English
and I'm lazy. When I was young I used to go to school. I used to sits next
to a girl called Janet and she used to pull my hair and I used to cry. She used
to laugh and I used to hate it. Oh that is awful to say! That sounds awfu!l And
that story is definitely not true! Ok? But seriously, "used to", "used to", "used to",
"used to". It's quite uncomfortable to move your mouth that much. When I was young I
used to go to school. I'd sit next to a girl called Janet and she'd pull my hair
and I'd cry and she'd laugh and I'd hate it. That was so much easier and this is
the main reason why English people say "would" more than they do "used to". Some
books will tell you it's more formal, no it's not. It's just easier. I used to do
this, I'd do this. It's very difficult to spot you need to listen carefully. "I'd",
"he'd", "she'd", "we'd", "they'd", "I'd do this", "you'd do that", "we'd do this", "he'd do this" "they'd do
that". We shorten the sound. Instead of they, they'd. They'd do that. Hmm, English
pronunciation! It is the hardest in the world because spoken English and written
English... there's just not a connection there is there? But grammatically speaking
is there a difference between "would" and "used to"? Well if you open your textbook
and maybe even if you ask your teacher they will tell you that we cannot use
"would" for past states. But this is not true! No! No! No! Let's look at my example
again. She'd laugh and I'd hate it. Well hate is a stative verb but I have said
would and I have said would correctly, thank you very much!
However let's look at another example. I used to be fat. OK, that's very good. I
would be fat. No! I cannot say that. That is wrong! But why? Why!? Here I used to be
fat is general. In the past, in general, I was fat. We cannot use "would" for general
past states: things that were generally true in the past.
That sounds confusing! Wait a moment! We can use "would" for states that were true
at a specific moment in the past during another event or activity perhaps. So
she'd pull my hair and I'd hate it is fine because I'm talking about my
repeated state at a particular repeated moment in the past. Let's look at another
example then. I used to have a dog. Again this is general. 'Have" is a stative verb
and generally at a point in the past I had a dog. So in this situation I cannot
say "I would have a dog". But... When I used to go to the park I used to have my dog
with me. Okay. When I used to go to the park I would have my dog with me. Now we
can use it because it's specific in that repeated moment. I had my dog with me. So
I can use a state with would. So if you want to use would for past states you
must attach it to another repeated moment or repeated event in the past.
Some more examples: I'd love her when she sang. After eating so much I'd be sick.
When I wore my stilts I'd be so tall. These are all stative verbs and we can
use them with would as long as it is tied to a specific repeated event in the past.
Ignore the textbooks! Follow me! I'm right! Ha! So for the exam, when it comes to
the Use of English actually these two expressions are very easy to use
correctly. For example for the Open Cloze section in part 2 if there is a
"to" or a "used" you know to write "used" or "to". If there isn't and just an infinitive
and we're talking about the past we know that we need to write "would". Let's look at
an example then. "He always _____ to ask for advice from his friends.". Well, here we
have "to" so we need "used". "He always _____ ask for advice from his friends."
So here we need "would" because there is no "to". Very simple! For part 4 of the Use of
English, the word transformations, normally the word you will have to
include will be a "used", a "to" or a "would", which is really helpful isn't it? But
let's look at a tricky example. "When I was young I could climb trees but now
it's too difficult:. The word we have is "used" so we know that we need a "used to".
But this is not as easy as it looks! I'll give you five seconds to think
about it. OK! The answer is I "used to", obviously, "be
able to climb trees". This is because "can" is a defective verb: it doesn't have an
infinitive. When we need an infinitive, " to + infinitive" with "can" instead of
using "can" we must use "to be able to". Similar to "must" and "have to". For the
Speaking I advise all of my students to avoid the present simple and use "used to"
or maybe "would" as a great way to do that. Especially for part one and especially
for questions that ask you if you like something or if you dislike something.
You can also use this in part two of the speaking. After your partner has finished
talking about their images the examiner will ask you a question and this is
normally a "do you prefer" or a "do you like" question. Let's look at some very
simple examples. What's your favorite color? Well it used to be yellow,
I would wear yellow everywhere but now I prefer green. Do you like shopping? I used
to love shopping and I'd go shopping every Saturday but now I prefer to stay
at home and watch SMASH English videos. Hmm... for more advice on how to avoid
using the present simple especially for part 1 of the speaking exam watch my
video on part 1 of the B2 First speaking exam! Yeah!? See ya! And with that we are
finished. Now you know all you need to know about "used to" for past
routines, habits, and states for the B2 first Cambridge exam. if you liked the
video don't forget to SMASH that like button, subscribe if you haven't already,
leave a comment down below! My name is Toby and this was SMASH English...