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PASTEL Posted 22 years ago
Grammar
Would/used to
Could you tell me what's difference between the following two sets?
I used to be very shy.
I would be very shy.
When I was young, I would hide away whenever a stranger came.
When I was young, I used to hide away whenever a stranger came.
Pastel
I used to be very shy.
I would be very shy.
When I was young, I would hide away whenever a stranger came.
When I was young, I used to hide away whenever a stranger came.
Pastel
Top answer
Hi Pastel, 'They have the same meaning, though 'would' in this usage is becoming rather formal or old-fashioned. As you may notice, 'would' is not as satisfactory is your first, short sentence, as it is in your second, where there is more context; in the first case, the reader tends to be unsure of the usage. ' must be used.
- Hi Pastel, 'They have the same meaning, though 'would' in this usage is becoming rather formal or old-fashioned.
- As you may notice, 'would' is not as satisfactory is your first, short sentence, as it is in your second, where there is more context; in the first case, the reader tends to be unsure of the usage.
- ' must be used.
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7 Answers
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Hi Pastel,
'They have the same meaning, though 'would' in this usage is becoming rather formal or old-fashioned. As you may notice, 'would' is not as satisfactory is your first, short sentence, as it is in your second, where there is more context; in the first case, the reader tends to be unsure of the usage.
It is important to notice that you cannot use 'would' for some past
'They have the same meaning, though 'would' in this usage is becoming rather formal or old-fashioned. As you may notice, 'would' is not as satisfactory is your first, short sentence, as it is in your second, where there is more context; in the first case, the reader tends to be unsure of the usage.
It is important to notice that you cannot use 'would' for some past
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Thanks, Mr. Micawber.
There are some sentences from Michael Swan's Practical English usage:
1) I used to word hard.
2) I used to work hard last month.
3) I worked hard last month.
4) I work hard.
Which one is considered proper structure?
According to Michael Swan, he mentioned that 'used to' refers to things that happened at an earlier stage of one's
There are some sentences from Michael Swan's Practical English usage:
1) I used to word hard.
2) I used to work hard last month.
3) I worked hard last month.
4) I work hard.
Which one is considered proper structure?
According to Michael Swan, he mentioned that 'used to' refers to things that happened at an earlier stage of one's
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"Used to" is used for past situations that no longer exist.
I used to smoke, but I quit last year. (You no longer smoke.)
I used to collect stamps when I was a kid. (You no longer collect stamps.)
I used to love him. (You don't love him anymore.
I used to live in Mexico. ( I don't live there now.)
"Used to" expresses a habitual situation or state that existed
I used to smoke, but I quit last year. (You no longer smoke.)
I used to collect stamps when I was a kid. (You no longer collect stamps.)
I used to love him. (You don't love him anymore.
I used to live in Mexico. ( I don't live there now.)
"Used to" expresses a habitual situation or state that existed
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Hi Pastel,
Regarding Michael Swan's sentences:
1) 'I used to work hard.' (This is the sentence Swan uses as an example of 'used to'-- a former condition which no longer applies. He no longer works hard.)
2) 'I used to work hard last month.' (This sentence you'll notice he uses as an example of what NOT to write; we don't normally use 'used to' simply to indicate a pas
Regarding Michael Swan's sentences:
1) 'I used to work hard.' (This is the sentence Swan uses as an example of 'used to'-- a former condition which no longer applies. He no longer works hard.)
2) 'I used to work hard last month.' (This sentence you'll notice he uses as an example of what NOT to write; we don't normally use 'used to' simply to indicate a pas
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I'll stick to the rules that 'used to' is applied to old habit generally happen in the past, not a past time like 'last month.' If there is a specific past time in the sentence, stick to simple past.
Thank you very much, Ms. Flower and Mr. Micawber. I understand it better now. Wish you a nice weekend.
Pastel
Thank you very much, Ms. Flower and Mr. Micawber. I understand it better now. Wish you a nice weekend.
Pastel
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Answer: I am used to driving fast.
Question: What is the person used to do?
Question: What is the person used to doing?
The second one sounds weird. Which is the correct form?
Question: What is the person used to do?
Question: What is the person used to doing?
The second one sounds weird. Which is the correct form?
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Hi Pastel,
Now you have switched to the idiom 'be used to', which is different from 'used to' (habit). 'Be used to' means 'be accustomed to'.
The second question (though not a likely one in nature) is correct.
'Are you used to driving on the left side of the road?'
'Yes, I am used to that-- I have lived in Japan for 15 years.'
'What else are you used t
Now you have switched to the idiom 'be used to', which is different from 'used to' (habit). 'Be used to' means 'be accustomed to'.
The second question (though not a likely one in nature) is correct.
'Are you used to driving on the left side of the road?'
'Yes, I am used to that-- I have lived in Japan for 15 years.'
'What else are you used t
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