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Anonymous Posted 15 years ago
Vocabulary
Are "Would do" and "used to do" the same?
While studying new concept english, I understand that "would"can replace "used to "in the following sentences:
He used to travel by air a great deal when he was young.
I used to go fishing in hot days.
but it cannot replace "used to "in the following sentences:
He used to be very quiet.
He used to live in a village.,
He used to know how to fix a computer.
Is my understanding correct?
If so, why is this sentence wrong:
They would play in a pop group when they were younger.
(Is this right---They used to play in a pop group when they were younger.)
I am confused.Need help here.
from a boy on the Chinese-Vietnamese border.
He used to travel by air a great deal when he was young.
I used to go fishing in hot days.
but it cannot replace "used to "in the following sentences:
He used to be very quiet.
He used to live in a village.,
He used to know how to fix a computer.
Is my understanding correct?
If so, why is this sentence wrong:
They would play in a pop group when they were younger.
(Is this right---They used to play in a pop group when they were younger.)
I am confused.Need help here.
from a boy on the Chinese-Vietnamese border.
Top answer
Most of the time either 'would' or 'used to' can be used with dynamic verbs, but only 'used to' can be used with stative verbs. Note that be, live, and know are all stative, so 'would know', 'would live', and 'would know' are all impossible combinations when the desired meaning is 'used to'. play is not stative, so either 'would play' or 'used to play' can be used to indicate past habitual activity.
- Most of the time either 'would' or 'used to' can be used with dynamic verbs, but only 'used to' can be used with stative verbs.
- Note that be, live, and know are all stative, so 'would know', 'would live', and 'would know' are all impossible combinations when the desired meaning is 'used to'.
- play is not stative, so either 'would play' or 'used to play' can be used to indicate past habitual activity.
- CJ
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2 Answers
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Most of the time either 'would' or 'used to' can be used with dynamic verbs, but only 'used to' can be used with stative verbs.
Note that be, live, and know are all stative, so 'would know', 'would live', and 'would know' are all impossible combinations when the desired meaning is 'used to'.
play is not stative, so either 'would play' or 'used to play' can be
Note that be, live, and know are all stative, so 'would know', 'would live', and 'would know' are all impossible combinations when the desired meaning is 'used to'.
play is not stative, so either 'would play' or 'used to play' can be
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Hi,
Let me just add this.
With the meaning you are asking about, 'used to' is used much, much commonly than 'would'.
I don't remember the lst time I heard anyone say 'would' with this meaning.
Let me just add this.
With the meaning you are asking about, 'used to' is used much, much commonly than 'would'.
I don't remember the lst time I heard anyone say 'would' with this meaning.
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