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Guest Posted 23 years ago
Grammar

Would or Used to?

I've been wondering if there's a difference in the meaning of the two following sentecnes:

1) My best friend and I used to go to school together.
2) My best friend and I would go to school together.

Gramatically, there's no difference. But I think the senteces have different connotations.

Thanx for the replies.
  

Top answer

There is a big difference there. ' used to ' means you always did something in the past. ' would go ' means there is a possibility to go.

— Whl626

  • There is a big difference there.
  • ' used to ' means you always did something in the past.
  • ' would go ' means there is a possibility to go.
  • ' Will go ' is very likely to go The first sentence sounds like you always went to school with your best friend in the past but not now
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3 Answers
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There is a big difference there.

' used to ' means you always did something in the past.

' would go ' means there is a possibility to go. ' Will go ' is very likely to go


The first sentence sounds like you always went to school with your best friend in the past but not now
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If you add a little context there, it will be clear that they both say much the same thing.

1) When we were children we used to go to school together.
2) When we were children we would go to school together.

To refer to repeated actions and events in the past, both 'would' and 'used to' can be used, but only 'used to' can refer to past states, e.g. I used to have a BMW
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Although they both refer to Past Habits, THERE IS A DIFFERENCE:

Used to for STATES and HABITS which are no longer true: 'I used to live in London' (STATE) / 'I used to go out every Friday.' (HABIT)

Would for HABIT (not STATES) which are no longer true: 'When I was younger, I would go out every Friday.'

Past Simple = adv o
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