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    USED TO and WOULD For Past Reference

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    Darko Ilic
    The document discusses the uses of "used to" and "would" to refer to past habits or routines. Used to is the past tense form of a modal verb with no present tense, and it indicates a discontinued past habit or situation. It can also describe a past routine without contrasting it with the present. Would can replace used to for describing past routines. Would also emphasizes characteristics of the subject rather than the action, and can express stubborn or annoying past behaviors.

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    USED TO and WOULD For Past Reference

    Uploaded by

    Darko Ilic
    34 views4 pages
    The document discusses the uses of "used to" and "would" to refer to past habits or routines. Used to is the past tense form of a modal verb with no present tense, and it indicates a discontinued past habit or situation. It can also describe a past routine without contrasting it with the present. Would can replace used to for describing past routines. Would also emphasizes characteristics of the subject rather than the action, and can express stubborn or annoying past behaviors.

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    USED TO and WOULD for past reference

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    The document discusses the uses of "used to" and "would" to refer to past habits or routines. Used to is the past tense form of a modal verb with no present tense, and it indicates a discontinued past habit or situation. It can also describe a past routine without contrasting it with the present. Would can replace used to for describing past routines. Would also emphasizes characteristics of the subject rather than the action, and can express stubborn or annoying past behaviors.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    34 views4 pages

    USED TO and WOULD For Past Reference

    Uploaded by

    Darko Ilic
    The document discusses the uses of "used to" and "would" to refer to past habits or routines. Used to is the past tense form of a modal verb with no present tense, and it indicates a discontinued past habit or situation. It can also describe a past routine without contrasting it with the present. Would can replace used to for describing past routines. Would also emphasizes characteristics of the subject rather than the action, and can express stubborn or annoying past behaviors.

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    USED TO/WOULD FOR PAST REFERENCE

    USED TO
    -is the past tense of a modal which has no present tense
    a) Affirmative form
    USED TO + infinitive of a verb
    e.g. She used to be my best friend.
    e.g. We used to go out every evening.
    b) Negative form
    DIDN’T USE TO + infinitive
    e.g. She didn’t use to be my best friend.
    e.g. We didn’t use to go out every evening.
    c) Interrogative form
    (question word) +DID +S +USE TO + infinitive
    e.g.Did she use to be your best friend?
    e.g. Where did you use to go out every evening?

    Usage

    1. This form represents a discontinued habit or a past


    situation which contrasts with the present.
    e.g. I used to smoke cigarettes; now I smoke a pipe.
    e.g. He used to drink beer- now he drinks wine.
    e.g. I used to dislike Tom, now I’m quite fond of him.
    e.g. Mary didn’t use to be rich.
    2. It can represent a past routine or pattern of behavior. It
    does not necessarily mean that it contrasts with the
    present, we are simply describing someone’s routine
    during a certain period in the past.(Here it can be
    replaced by WOULD)
    e.g. Every morning Tom used to kiss Ann and set off for
    work. Ann used to stand at the window and wave. In the
    afternoon….

    Note: This form is not to be confused with USED as an


    adjective (used, adj= accustomed, habituated.)
    e.g I am used to the noise/ to my new situation…

    WOULD
    1) Both will and would can express a habit or emphasize
    characteristics of the performer rather than the action.
    e.g. An Englishman will usually tell you the way.
    e.g.A true friend will always help you.
    e.g. Tom would do something like that, wouldn't he? It's so
    typical of him!

    2) These verbs can often express obstinate insistence:


    e.g. If you will keep your watch 5 minutes late, no wonder
    that you are late, constantly.
    e.g. We all tried to stop him from smoking in the bed but he
    would do it!

    3) The characteristic behaviour emphasized in this way is


    often annoying:
    e.g. Bill objected. –Oh, he would!

    4) Would can replace used to for past routine:


    e.g. Every morning Tom would kiss Ann and set off for
    work. Ann would stand at the window and wave. In the
    afternoon….

    With state verbs, however, only used to is possible:


    I used to hate dancing in those days.
    I would hate dancing in those days.
    5) Would is the past equivalent of will for intention but
    only in subordinate clauses:
    e.g. He said that he would help me. * He would help me.
    The negative form (wouldn’t) can be used in both types of
    clauses/sentences to express the meaning of intention in the
    past:
    e.g. He said he wouldn’t help me. / He wouldn’t help me.

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