Both would and used to can refer to repeated actions, habits and events in the past.

• When I was a kid I used to / would spend my holidays at my grandmother’s place.
• She would / used to come and take my sister and me to her home on 1^st April itself.
• We used to / would play all sorts of fun games with our cousins.

There is an important difference between would and used to. Used to can refer to past states. Would cannot be used with this meaning.

• He used to be a chain smoker. (NOT He would be a chain smoker.)
• There used to be a big banyan tree in that corner. (NOT There would be a ….)

Refer Class IX English Communicative Workbook Page Number 13

Read the passage given below. Substitute used to with would whenever appropriate so that the passage reads better.

When I was a student, I used to visit the library frequently. The librarian was a kind man and he used to help me select my books. There used to be a small tea shop near the library. After spending a few hours in the reading room of the library, I used to go to this tea shop to meet my friends. There used to be an old waiter who kept a corner table reserved for us.

Solution

When I was a student, I used to / would visit (past habit) the library frequently. The librarian was a kind man and he used to / would (past habit) help me select my books. There used to (past state) be a small tea shop near the library. After spending a few hours in the reading room of the library, I used to /would (past habit) go to this tea shop to meet my friends. There used to (past state) be an old waiter who kept a corner table reserved for us.

Tip

Used to be indicates a past state. You cannot replace it with would.

Used to + infinitive indicates a past event or habit. You can replace it with would.