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�used to� is used:
1. To express a discontinued
habit or a past situation which contrasts with the present.
a.
I used to smoke cigarettes; now I smoke a pipe.
b. He used to
drink strong black coffee; now he drinks tea.
c. I used to
study in a middle school; now I study in a secondary school. �used to� is not normally stressed, but it can be stressed if the speaker wishes to emphasize the contrast between past and present.
2. To express a past
routine or pattern. Here we are
not making a contrast between past
and present; we are merely describing someone �s routine during a certain
period. Very often there is a succession of actions, used to here is
replaceable by would (but would cannot replace used to for a discontinued habit etc.
as in 1 above), used to here is
always unstressed.
Tom and Ann were husband and
wife. Every morning Tom used to kiss Ann and set off for work. Ann used to
stand at the window and wave goodbye. In the evening she used to welcome him
home and ask him to tell her about his day.
If we use would we have:
==> Every morning Tom would kiss Ann
and set off for work. Ann would stand at the window and wave goodbye etc. Cheers!
Al.
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