🔁 Would vs Used to
What do “would” and “used to” express?
Both are used to describe repeated actions or habits in the past.
“would” और “used to” दोनों का प्रयोग भूतकाल की आदतों या बार-बार होने वाली क्रियाओं को व्यक्त
करने के लिए किया जाता है।
✅ Use “would” when:
- You're describing a repeated action in the past.
- The action is voluntary and often has a clear time frame.
“would” का प्रयोग तब करें जब कोई क्रिया बार-बार होती थी और समय स्पष्ट हो।
Example: Every evening, he would feed the street dogs near his house.
उदाहरण: हर शाम वह अपने घर के पास गली के कुत्तों को खाना देता था।
❌ Do NOT use “would” when:
- You're describing a past state, feeling, belief, or condition.
“would” का प्रयोग किसी स्थिति, भावना या विश्वास के लिए नहीं करें।
Incorrect: She would be very shy. ✅ Correct: She used to be very
shy.
गलत: वह बहुत शर्मीली होती थी। सही: वह पहले बहुत शर्मीली थी।
✅ Use “used to” when:
- You're describing either repeated actions or past states.
- It works for habits, feelings, beliefs, and conditions.
“used to” का प्रयोग आदतों, स्थितियों, विश्वासों और भावनाओं के लिए करें।
Example: I used to think the moon followed me when I walked at night.
उदाहरण: मुझे लगता था कि रात में चलते समय चाँद मेरा पीछा करता है।
⚖️ Sometimes both are correct:
- When describing repeated actions, both “would” and “used to” may work.
जब कोई क्रिया बार-बार होती थी, तब “would” और “used to” दोनों सही हो सकते हैं।
Example: We would / used to play cricket every Sunday.
उदाहरण: हम हर रविवार को क्रिकेट खेलते थे।
📊 Comparison Table
| Expression |
Usage |
Example |
हिंदी अर्थ |
| would |
Repeated action (not state) |
He would walk to school every day. |
वह रोज़ स्कूल पैदल जाता था। |
| used to |
Repeated action or past state |
I used to live in Delhi. |
मैं पहले दिल्ली में रहता था। |
| used to |
Belief or feeling in the past |
I used to think ghosts were real. |
मैं सोचता था कि भूत सच में होते हैं। |
| used to |
Past condition |
She used to be very shy. |
वह पहले बहुत शर्मीली थी। |
| Both |
Repeated action |
We would/used to play cricket every evening. |
हम रोज़ शाम को क्रिकेट खेलते थे। |
| ✖ would |
Incorrect for states |
✖ He would be tall. ✅ He used to be tall. |
✖ वह लंबा होता था। ✅ वह पहले लंबा था। |
🎯 Quick Quiz
(1) Every day she ______ come home with a rose. (would / used to)
(2) I ______ believe that fireflies were fireballs. (used to / would)
(3) He ______ visit his friend in the hospital every evening. (would / used to)
(4) During hostel life, he ______ eat all kinds of food. (used to / would)
(5) Each time I called him, he ______ come immediately. (would / used to)
(6) She ______ be very quiet in class. (used to / would)
(7) We ______ go to our grandmother’s house every summer. (would / used to)
(8) He ______ think the moon followed him. (used to / would)
💡 Did You Know?
Why “used to” is incorrect in some cases:
✅ Use “would” when the action is repeated and triggered by a condition or time.
❌ “used to” may sound vague or unnatural in these cases.
(1) Every day she would come home…
हर दिन वह घर आती थी — यह एक नियमित क्रिया है।
(4) Each time I called him, he would come…
जब भी मैं कॉल करता, वह आता — यह एक प्रतिक्रिया है।
(9) The pilot would fly his old Dakota plane…
पायलट बार-बार उड़ान भरता था — यह एक आदत है।
Why “would” is incorrect in other cases:
✅ Use “used to” for past beliefs, emotions, or states.
❌ “would” cannot express mental states or conditions.
(6) I used to believe fireflies were fireballs…
यह एक पुराना विश्वास है — “would” नहीं चलेगा।
(7) Lencho used to believe God would help…
यह आस्था है — “used to” सही है।
(8) Mandela used to feel the pain of his people…
यह भावना है — “would” गलत होगा।
(10) Anne Frank used to write in her diary…
यह एक व्यक्तिगत आदत है — “used to” अधिक स्वाभाविक है।
(11) Wanda used to sit quietly in class…
यह एक स्थिति/आदत है — “used to” उपयुक्त है।
← back to Eng- Grammar-home