Habitual actions in the past with used to and would.
1. Used to
👉 Structure: Subject + used to + base verb
👉 Meaning: Something that was true or happened regularly in the past, but no longer happens/true.
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It refers both to states (be, have, like, live, etc.) and actions.
✅ Examples:
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I used to live in Beira, but now I live in Maputo.
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She used to have long hair.
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They used to play football every afternoon.
⚠️ Negative & Questions:
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I didn’t use to like coffee.
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Did you use to go fishing when you were a child?
2. Would
👉 Structure: Subject + would + base verb
👉 Meaning: Repeated actions in the past (like a routine), but not for states.
✅ Examples:
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Every evening, my grandfather would tell us stories.
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When we were children, we would go swimming in the river.
⚠️ Can’t use with states:
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❌ I would be very shy.
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✅ I used to be very shy.
3. Key Difference
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Used to → past states + habits
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Would → only past habits/actions (often with time expressions: every day, on Sundays, whenever, etc.)
✨ Quick comparison:
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I used to live in London. (state)
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On Sundays, we would go to church. (habit/action)
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