3 ways to talk about the past in English

You can use the simple past to talk about

1. A state or status (which is not true anymore):

Last night we were very tired.

When I was a child, I lived in Boston.

He wasnt happy when he found out about the problem.

Why werent you at work yesterday? Were you sick?

2. A single action:

Last night we watched a movie.

My family moved to New York in 1998.

Yesterday I bought a new jacket.

She didnt go to the party last week.

Did you study for the test?

For single actions, you MUST use the simple past. You cant use used to or would.

3. A repeated action:

I studied every day when I was in high school.

Back when we were rich, we ate at nice restaurants pretty frequently.

Although its possible to use the simple past for repeated actions, its more common to use
used to or would in these cases.

I studied every day when I was in high school.

You can use used to to talk about

1. A state or status (which is not true anymore):

I used to be an engineer, but now Im a teacher.

I used to like rock music, but now I prefer jazz.

We used to have a car, but we sold it when we moved to the city.

He has lost a lot of weight in the past few years. He used to be obese.

I used to like rock music, but now I prefer jazz.

Or something that wasnt true in the past, but is true now:

She didnt use to be very religious, but now shes a devoted Catholic.

I didnt use to care about politics, but Ive been getting more interested in it lately.

2. A repeated action in the past

(which you do not do anymore):

I used to play basketball every weekend. Now I dont have time for it, though.

My dad used to smoke a lot. Fortunately, he quit smoking last year.

Or something that you didnt have the habit of doing in the past, but you do now:

We didnt use to watch much TV, but now we have a lot of favorite shows.

I didnt use to drink coffee, but nowadays I cant survive without my morning cup!

I didnt used to like coffee, but now I cant survive without my morning cup!

You can use would to talk about only

1. A repeated action in the past
(which you do not do anymore):

When I was younger, I would play basketball every weekend.

When I was in college, my mother would call me every day to find out how my classes
went.

Back when I lived with my brother, we would stay up late playing video games.
These sentences can also be expressed with used to there is no difference:

When I was younger, I would play basketball every weekend.

= When I was younger, I used to play basketball every weekend.

Dont make the mistake of saying would to play.
The word would is NEVER followed by to.

When I was younger, I would play basketball every weekend.

We do NOT use the negative form (wouldnt) to talk about the absence of past habits in
this case we must use used to:

I wouldnt drink coffee.

I didnt use to drink coffee.

We do NOT use would to talk about past states. It is only used for actions.

I would be an engineer, but now Im a teacher.

I used to be an engineer, but now Im a teacher.

I would like rock music, but now I prefer jazz.

I used to like rock music, but now I prefer jazz.

Image sources: imagerymajestic at FreeDigitalPhotos.net, Mr. Nomad, Chris LeCroy

Share and Enjoy

- See more at: http://www.espressoenglish.net/3-ways-to-talk-about-the-past-inenglish/#sthash.qanEsxKK.dpuf