Browse Worksheets

Talking About Past Habits and Situations

Names: ………………………………………………………….

"Used to" and "Would"

1. Explanation

🔹 "Used to"

We use "used to" to talk about:
✅ Past habits (things we did regularly in the past but don’t do now).
✅ Past states (situations that were true in the past but have changed).

📌 Form:

• Positive: I used to play football every weekend.
• Negative: I didn’t use to like coffee.
• Question: Did you use to have long hair?

🚫 We don't use "would" for past states. I used to have long hair. (Correct). I would have long hair. (Incorrect)

🔹 "Would"

We use "would" to talk about:
✅ Repeated past actions and habits (but NOT past states).

📌 Form:

• Positive: When I was a child, I would visit my grandma every Sunday.
• Negative: She wouldn’t eat vegetables when she was younger.

🚫 No question form with "would" for past habits. Use "Did you use to...?" instead.

2. Exercises

A. Complete the Conversations

Fill in the blanks using "used to," "didn't use to," "would," or "wouldn't."

1. A: You’re so fit now! But I remember you ______________ (not/exercise) much before.
   B: Yeah, I ______________ (spend) all my weekends watching TV.
2. A: ______________ (you/play) the piano when you were a child?
   B: Yes! I ______________ (practice) every day, but I stopped when I was 15.
3. A: My grandpa ______________ (tell) me bedtime stories when I was little.
   B: That’s sweet! My parents ______________ (not/read) to me much, but I loved books.

B. Rewrite the Sentences

Rewrite the sentences using "used to" or "would" where possible.

1. I often played outside with my friends after school.
   → _______________________________________
2. She was very shy when she was younger.
   → _______________________________________
3. My brother always helped me with my homework.
   → _______________________________________
4. They had a small shop in our town.
   → _______________________________________

C. Past vs. Now

Look at the situations below. Write one sentence about the past and one about now using "used to" and "but now..."

1. I hated vegetables before. Now, I eat them every day.
   → I ________________ vegetables, but now I ________________.
2. My parents were strict. Now, they are more outgoing.
   → They ________________, but now ________________.
3. I didn’t enjoy studying English before. Now, I love it!
   → I ________________, but now ________________.

D. Short Paragraph Exercise

Write a short paragraph (4–5 sentences) about how your life has changed. Use "used to," "didn’t use to," "would," and "wouldn’t."

Example:
"When I was a child, I used to be very shy. I wouldn’t talk much in class, and I used to feel nervous meeting new people. I used to love playing outside, and my friends and I would ride our bikes every day. Now, I’m more confident, and I love socializing."

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Talking About Past Habits and Situations

Names: ………………………………………………………….

"Used to" and "Would"

1. Explanation

🔹 "Used to"

We use "used to" to talk about:
✅ Past habits (things we did regularly in the past but don’t do now).
✅ Past states (situations that were true in the past but have changed).

📌 Form:

• Positive: I used to play football every weekend.
• Negative: I didn’t use to like coffee.
• Question: Did you use to have long hair?

🚫 We don't use "would" for past states. I used to have long hair. (Correct). I would have long hair. (Incorrect)

🔹 "Would"

We use "would" to talk about:
✅ Repeated past actions and habits (but NOT past states).

📌 Form:

• Positive: When I was a child, I would visit my grandma every Sunday.
• Negative: She wouldn’t eat vegetables when she was younger.

🚫 No question form with "would" for past habits. Use "Did you use to...?" instead.

2. Exercises

A. Complete the Conversations

Fill in the blanks using "used to," "didn't use to," "would," or "wouldn't."

1. A: You’re so fit now! But I remember you ______________ (not/exercise) much before.
   B: Yeah, I ______________ (spend) all my weekends watching TV.
2. A: ______________ (you/play) the piano when you were a child?
   B: Yes! I ______________ (practice) every day, but I stopped when I was 15.
3. A: My grandpa ______________ (tell) me bedtime stories when I was little.
   B: That’s sweet! My parents ______________ (not/read) to me much, but I loved books.

B. Rewrite the Sentences

Rewrite the sentences using "used to" or "would" where possible.

1. I often played outside with my friends after school.
   → _______________________________________
2. She was very shy when she was younger.
   → _______________________________________
3. My brother always helped me with my homework.
   → _______________________________________
4. They had a small shop in our town.
   → _______________________________________

C. Past vs. Now

Look at the situations below. Write one sentence about the past and one about now using "used to" and "but now..."

1. I hated vegetables before. Now, I eat them every day.
   → I ________________ vegetables, but now I ________________.
2. My parents were strict. Now, they are more outgoing.
   → They ________________, but now ________________.
3. I didn’t enjoy studying English before. Now, I love it!
   → I ________________, but now ________________.

D. Short Paragraph Exercise

Write a short paragraph (4–5 sentences) about how your life has changed. Use "used to," "didn’t use to," "would," and "wouldn’t."

Example:
"When I was a child, I used to be very shy. I wouldn’t talk much in class, and I used to feel nervous meeting new people. I used to love playing outside, and my friends and I would ride our bikes every day. Now, I’m more confident, and I love socializing."

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