Chapter 6B - Will And Would for habits and general truths

Question 1

You can use would to express habitual actions in the past. Would is more formal than used to and is frequently used in past narratives. Would needs to be clearly associated with a time in the past.

• In his youth, Usher Raymond would sing each week in his local choir.

You can use will to express personal habits or characteristic behavior in present.

• When not recording, the multi-talented star will frequently act on TV , in movies, and in plays.

Will is also used to express facts that are generally true.
- True talent will always be noticed.

Answer 1

Used to and would are Both used to express habits in the past.

• Before he became a big star, Mark used to play music on the street for money.
• Before he became a big star, Mark would play music on the street for money.

However, would cannot be used with stative verbs such as be,have,like,live,love,mean and own.

• Correct: When I was young, I used to have a clarinet.
• Incorrect: When I was young, I would have a clarinet.