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These used to or would exercises help you talk about past habits, states, or situations that no longer exist in the present. You can check the answers on this page. A PDF worksheet is also available to download for free.

1. Exercise 1: used to or would?

Choose used to or would to complete each sentence.

1. We ___ live in Granada.



We cannot use 'would' to talk about a state or situation which is no longer true.

2. I ___ go to the gym with my dad when I was a teenager.



I used to go to the gym with my dad when I was a teenager.

3. When I was a student, I ___ feel nervous during exams.



You should not use 'would' with stative verbs.

4. She ___ have long hair, but she lost it because of cancer treatment.



She used to have long hair, but she lost it because of cancer treatment

5. When my son was about four years old, he ____ paint for about 2 hours every day.



Here, you can use both 'used to' and 'would'.

6. This restaurant ___ be good, but now it’s terrible.



This restaurant used to be good, but now it’s terrible.

2. Exercise 2

Write used to or would to complete each sentence. Note that in some cases, both answers are correct.

1. When I was a child, I collect stickers. I trade them with my friends, and we spend hours arranging them in albums.

When I was a child, I used to (or would) collect stickers. I would trade them with my friends, and we would spend hours arranging them in albums.

2. When we were teenagers, we play football in a park. After the game, we sit on the grass and talk for hours.

When we were teenagers, we used to (or would) play football in a park. After the game, we would sit on the grass and talk for hours.

3. I live in a small village before moving here.

I used to live in a small village before moving here.

4. I watch cartoons when I was a kid.

I used to watch cartoons when I was a kid.

5. When I worked in a bank, I talk to clients to review their monthly budgets. I analyse their spending habits and discuss how much they could realistically save each month.

When I worked in a bank, I would (or used to) talk to clients to review their monthly budgets. I would analyse their spending habits and discuss how much they could realistically save each month.

6. I believe in ghosts until I was fifteen.

I used to believe in ghosts until I was fifteen.

7. I practise Kung Fu in high school.

I used to practise Kung Fu in high school.

8. When my husband was a gang member, he stay out late almost every night. He hang around with local gang members to discuss ways to make money illegally. He think that kind of life was exciting.

When my husband was a gang member, he used to (or would) stay out late almost every night. He would hang around with local gang members to discuss ways to make money illegally. He used to think that kind of life was exciting.

9. I wear braces when I was a teenager.

I used to wear braces when I was a teenager.

10. When I was your age, I live in a small town. There weren’t any schools nearby, so I walk several kilometres every day to attend classes.

When I was your age, I used to live in a small town. There weren’t any schools nearby, so I would walk several kilometres every day to attend classes.

Score: 0 / 3

3. Exercise 3

Fill in the blanks with would or used to.

1. I love to hear what he thinks.

I would love to hear what he thinks.

2. My uncle work in a mortuary.

My uncle used to work in a mortuary.

3. I walk to school before my dad bought me a bicycle.

I used to walk to school before my dad bought me a bicycle.

4. When we were still living with our parents, our dad gather us together and teach us family history. He remind us where we came from.

When we were still living with our parents, our dad would (or used to) gather us together and teach us family history. He would remind us where we came from

5. I like this neighbourhood, but now I’s not safe.

I used to like this neighbourhood, but now it’s not safe.

Score: 0 / 3

4. Used to or would worksheet

This worksheet contains 10 sentences to complete using used to or would. You can check the answers below.

Used to or would worksheet with fill in the blanks exercises.
Used to or would worksheet
Click here to hide the answers to the worksheet ▼
  1. I used to live in Paris before moving to Madrid.
  2. My father and I used to fish in this river.
  3. There used to be a police station here.
  4. When I was married to my first wife, she would make delicious cookies on Sundays.
  5. I used to have a lot of friends, but now I feel lonely.
  6. When I was in the military, I would wake up at 5 a.m. every morning.
  7. We used to have a dog, but it passed away years ago.
  8. When I was in high school, our English teacher would give us homework on Fridays.
  9. She used to be very shy.
  10. On holidays, I used to go fishing for crabs with my dad. We would sell them at a local market, and my mom would preserve the rest for the winter.
  11. My uncle used to be a good player until he had knee surgery.
  12. She used to be afraid of ghosts.
  13. When I had a dog, I would take it for a walk every day.
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