Past Habits

imantaghaviHi,Can we use past simple and used to to refer to past habits interchangeably?Ex: When I was a child, I walked / used to walk to school everyday.Regards,Iman

Hi,
I would say the second one "I used to walk to school everyday" because it is an action repeated every day in the past.

I hope it is correct :-) let´s wait for the expert teache

imantaghaviCan we use past simple and used to to refer to past habits interchangeably?
When I was a child, I walked / used to walk to school every day.

Yes, as long as it's clear that it's a habitual situation, the simple past will do the job. Of course, not all sentences have the right cues for hab

Hi CJ,

I´m not sure I understand, both can work, but I have to mention some words suggesting an habitual situation? (like every year, every day etc etc)?

Please confirm if it is so....

Thanks

No I think "I was walking to school everyday"is the right word.

"every day" is correct. ......."everyday" is not correct there. Does anyone know if my "quote" function is ever going to work again?

Pamela81I have to mention some words suggesting an habitual situation? (like every year, every day etc etc)?

Yes. Words like that always help to convey the meaning of "habit". Sometimes a when-clause that mentions a time in the past can serve a similar function, but "every [day / month / year]" helps even more.

CJ

Now it´s clear CJ. Thank you.

Thank you CJ and Pamela very much.

Iman

Hi.
The topic seems interesting, so I would like to chime in on the conversation.
To me, both sentences are correct with difference in meaning. Used to is used to express past states or actions, and not necessarily habit. I would like to present another example to tell the difference.

Ex.
A. I used to have long hair
B. I had long hair.

hrsaneiTo me, both sentences are correct with difference in meaning.

Yes. What you say is true.

CJ