TOEIC Part 5: Used To Vs Would - Rule, Examples, and 20 Practice Questions

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The Rule: Used To vs Would

Used To

Structure: Used to + base verb

Uses:

1. Past habits: actions that happened regularly in the past but no longer happen

• I used to play soccer every weekend.

1. Past states: situations that were true but are no longer true

• She used to live in Tokyo.

1. Past facts: things that were true in the past but aren't now

• There used to be a library on this street.

Would

Structure: Would + base verb

Uses:

1. Only for past habits (not states or facts)

• When I was a child, I would visit my grandparents every summer.

1. Often used with specific time expressions

• On Sundays, we would go for a family walk.

Model Answers at Different Score Levels

Question 1

Prompt: She ______ to the gym three times a week last year.

| Score Level | Model Answer | Scoring Breakdown | |------------|--------------|-----------------| | 6.0-7.0 (400-595) | She used to go to the gym three times a week last year. | - Correct use of 'used to' for past habit (1 point) - Proper verb form (1 point) - Complete sentence structure (1 point) - Total: 3/3 points | | 7.5-8.0 (600-785) | She would go to the gym three times a week last year. | - Correct use of 'would' for past habit (1 point) - Proper verb form (1 point) - Complete sentence structure (1 point) - Total: 3/3 points | | 8.5-9.0 (790-990) | She used to frequent the gym three times weekly last year. | - Correct use of 'used to' for past habit (1 point) - Proper verb form (1 point) - Advanced vocabulary ('frequent') (1 point) - Formal structure (1 point) - Total: 4/4 points |

Question 2

Prompt: There ______ a small bookstore on this corner.

| Score Level | Model Answer | Scoring Breakdown | |------------|--------------|-----------------| | 6.0-7.0 (400-595) | There used to be a small bookstore on this corner. | - Correct use of 'used to' for past state (1 point) - Proper verb form (1 point) - Complete sentence structure (1 point) - Total: 3/3 points | | 7.5-8.0 (600-785) | There would be a small bookstore on this corner. | - Incorrect use of 'would' for past state (0 points) - Proper verb form (1 point) - Complete sentence structure (1 point) - Total: 2/3 points | | 8.5-9.0 (790-990) | There once stood a small bookstore on this very corner. | - Correct use of 'used to' concept (1 point) - Proper verb form (1 point) - Advanced vocabulary ('once stood') (1 point) - Formal structure (1 point) - Total: 4/4 points |

20 Practice Questions

1. He ______ to work early in the morning.
2. We ______ to the beach every summer when I was a child.
3. There ______ a large tree in our backyard.
4. She ______ always wear red shoes.
5. They ______ to live in a small apartment.
6. It ______ snow heavily in this city.
7. He ______ come to visit us every weekend.
8. We ______ to the same restaurant for our anniversary.
9. There ______ a park where this shopping mall stands now.
10. She ______ play the piano beautifully.
11. They ______ to the mountains for hiking.
12. There ______ a time when this area was very green.
13. I ______ always help my mother with the dishes.
14. He ______ to be a very good student.
15. We ______ to the old cinema on Saturdays.
16. There ______ a small pond near our house.
17. She ______ speak French fluently.
18. They ______ to the same bar after work.
19. It ______ rain a lot during spring.
20. He ______ to be very shy as a child.

Vocabulary Highlights

1. Frequent (verb) - to visit or go to a place often

• She frequents that coffee shop every morning.

1. Stand (verb) - to be situated or located

• A tall building stands at the city's center.

1. Once (adverb) - at some time in the past

• There once was a castle on this hill.

1. Heavily (adverb) - in large amounts or with great force

• It rained heavily all night.

1. Fluently (adverb) - able to speak or perform a language easily and accurately

• She speaks Spanish fluently.

1. Shy (adjective) - nervous or timid in the company of other people

• As a child, he was very shy.

1. Green (adjective) - covered with grass or other vegetation

• The countryside was very green in spring.

1. Anniversary (noun) - the date on which an event took place in a previous year

• We celebrated our wedding anniversary last week.

1. Situated (adjective) - located or positioned

• The house is situated near the river.

1. Timid (adjective) - shy or nervous in the company of other people

• The timid child hid behind her mother.

Common Mistakes

1. Mixing 'used to' and 'would' for states: Using 'would' for past states like weather or locations

• Incorrect: There would be a park here.
• Correct: There used to be a park here.

1. Using 'used to' with non-count nouns: Some students try to use 'used to' with uncountable nouns

• Incorrect: There used to be many money.
• Correct: There used to be a lot of money.

1. Confusing 'used to' with 'be used to': Mixing up the structure for being accustomed to something

• Incorrect: I used to live in cold weather.
• Correct: I am used to living in cold weather.

1. Using 'would' with non-habitual actions: Applying 'would' to one-time or non-repetitive actions

• Incorrect: He would go to the hospital yesterday.
• Correct: He went to the hospital yesterday.

1. Omitting 'to' in 'used to': Forgetting the 'to' in the structure

• Incorrect: He used go to school by bus.
• Correct: He used to go to school by bus.

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