B1-09 · B1 Threshold · 09 / 12

Used To and Would

  • Not: Describe past habits with used to + V and would + V.
  • Not: Never confuse used to (past habit) with be/get used to + -ing (accustomed).
  • TR: Eski aliskanliklari anlatmak ve "alisik olmak"tan ayirmak.
Start the 8-question quizAdapts to your answers · every miss links back to the rule

Rule in 60 secondsThe one pattern to memorise.

  • Past habit: used to + base verb (states and actions), would + base verb (actions only).
  • Accustomed: be/get used to + noun/-ing (I am used to cold weather).
  • TR: used to + yalın fiil = eskiden yapardim; used to + -ing = alisigim.

FormsHow it looks in sentences.

PatternExampleUse
used to + VI used to play chess.past habit (no longer true)
would + VWe would visit grandma.past repeated action
didn't use to + VI didn't use to like tea.negative (no -d on use)
Did ... use to + V?Did you use to swim?question (no -d on use)
be used to + -ingI am used to waking early.accustomed now
get used to + -ingShe got used to the noise.became accustomed
  • would needs a time frame and action verb: "When I was a child, we would go fishing."
  • TR: would durum fiilleriyle (be, have, know) kullanilmaz.
  • Pronunciation: used to = /juːstə/.
  • Örnek: I USED TO smoke. (eskiden, artik degil)
  • Örnek: We WOULD play outside every evening. (cocukken, tekrarlanan eylem)
  • Örnek: I AM USED TO working nights. (alisigim — -ing'e dikkat)

3 classic trapsWhere Turkish speakers slip.

  • Tuzak 1 — Did + used (with -d):Did you used to play? → ✅ Did you use to play?
  • TR: Did gelince used yalınlasir: use to.
  • Tuzak 2 — Would with state verbs:I would be shy as a child. → ✅ I used to be shy as a child.
  • TR: be, know, like, have ile used to kullan, would degil.
  • Tuzak 3 — used to + -ing mix-up:
  • Yanlış: I used to waking up early. (means habit, wrong form)
  • Not: I am used to waking up early. (I am accustomed — correct with be)
  • TR: -ing varsa onunde be/get olmali.

10 example sentencesRead aloud, twice.

  • I used to play football every weekend. — Eskiden her hafta sonu futbol oynardim.
  • She didn't use to like coffee. — Eskiden kahve sevmezdi.
  • Did you use to live in Istanbul?. — Eskiden Istanbul'da mi yasiyordun?
  • When we were kids, we would go fishing. — Cocukken baliga giderdik.
  • He used to be very shy. — Eskiden cok utangacti.
  • I am used to getting up early. — Erken kalkmaya alisigim.
  • She got used to working night shifts. — Gece vardiyasina alisti.
  • They would visit us every summer. — Her yaz bizi ziyaret ederlerdi.
  • It is hard, but you'll get used to it. — Zor ama buna alisacaksin.
  • We used to have a dog called Max. — Max adinda bir kopegimiz vardi.

Quick checkCover the answers, say yours first.

  • Soru 1: I ___ to play chess. (used/use) → used.
  • Soru 2: Fix: "Did you used to swim?" → Did you use to swim?
  • Soru 3: As a child she ___ be afraid of dogs. (would/used to) → used to.
  • Soru 4: I am used to ___ (work) late. → working.
  • Soru 5: They ___ visit us every year. (would/used to — both?) → both ok (action).
  • Soru 6: She got used to ___ (drive) in snow. → driving.
  • Soru 7: Fix: "I used to waking early." → I am used to waking early. / I used to wake...
  • Soru 8: Negative: I ___ use to eat meat. → didn't.

SourcesKeep reading.