Used To, Would and Be Used To: Past Habits Explained

English has several ways to talk about habits. The expressions "used to", "would" and "be used to" look similar but work differently.

Used to: past habits and states

Used to + base verb describes something that was true or regular in the past but is not any more.

• I used to smoke. (I don't now.)
• We used to live in Madrid.
• She used to be shy.

Negative and question forms drop the "d": "I didn't use to like coffee." "Did you use to play chess?"

Would: repeated actions only

Would + base verb can replace "used to" for repeated actions, especially in memories and storytelling.

• Every summer we would visit our grandparents.
• He would always bring us sweets.

Would is not used for states. You cannot say "I would live in Madrid" or "She would be shy" to mean a past state; use "used to" or the past simple.

Be used to: familiar with

Be/get used to + noun or -ing means you are (or are becoming) accustomed to something. It refers to the present or any time, not to a past habit.

• I am used to getting up early.
• She is used to the cold weather.
• It took me a month to get used to driving on the left.

Comparison

Sentence	Meaning
I used to get up early.	I did it in the past; I don't now.
I am used to getting up early.	It feels normal to me now.

Present habits

For present routines, use the present simple, often with frequency adverbs: "I usually walk to work." Use the present continuous for temporary or changing situations: "I am walking to work this week because my car is being repaired."

Common mistakes

• Wrong: "I didn't used to like fish." Right: "I didn't use to like fish."
• Wrong: "I'm used to get up early." Right: "I'm used to getting up early."

Practice

• Present Simple vs Continuous quiz — Habit or something happening right now?
• Used to, Would or Past Simple? quiz — Talking about past habits — which form fits?