Cap. 2
used to / would
Hábitos pasados, estados y acciones repetidas
Ambas estructuras describen hábitos o acciones repetidas en el pasado, pero tienen diferencias clave de uso.
Solía fumar.
→
I used to smoke.
Siempre iba al cine los viernes.
→
I would always go to the cinema on Fridays.
Atención: 'would' no se usa con estados ni con verbos que describen una condición (como be, live, have). Solo con acciones.
Used to describe tanto hábitos como estados en el pasado que han cambiado.
Antes vivía en Madrid.
→
I used to live in Madrid.
No tenía coche.
→
I didn't use to have a car.
¿Solías jugar al fútbol?
→
Did you use to play football?
Error frecuente: En preguntas y negaciones, la forma es did + use to, no used to.
✗ *Did you used to...?* → ✓ Did you use to...?
Would solo se usa para acciones habituales en el pasado, nunca para estados (be, live, like, know, etc.).
De niño, siempre jugaba en el parque.
→
As a child, I would always play in the park.
Cada verano íbamos a la playa.
→
Every summer we would go to the beach.
No se puede usar:
✗ *He would be shy.* → ✓ He used to be shy.
Los estados requieren used to, no would.
| Estructura | Usos permitidos | Ejemplo correcto |
|---|
| used to | Hábitos y estados | I used to live here.
I used to like jazz. |
| would | Solo acciones repetidas | I would walk to school.
She would call every day. |
Consejo FCE: Si puedes sustituir por "solía", usa used to. Si es una acción repetida con "siempre / cada vez", would también funciona.
He would be very tall as a child.
→
He used to be very tall as a child.
Be es un estado → solo used to.
Did you used to work here?
→
Did you use to work here?
Después de did, el verbo va en forma base: use, no used.
I would live in London for ten years.
→
I used to live in London for ten years.
Vivir = estado → used to, no would.
We didn't would go to school by bus.
→
We didn't use to go to school by bus.
Negación: didn't use to, nunca didn't would.
Resumen
used to
+ infinitivo
Hábitos y estados pasados: I used to smoke / be shy.
would
+ infinitivo
Solo acciones repetidas: I would walk to school.
Negación
didn't use to
I didn't use to like coffee.
Preguntas
Did... use to...?
Did you use to play piano?
Estados
Solo used to
used to be / live / have / know...