Modal Verbs for Habits

The modal verbs for habits are will, would and used to. There are though subtle differences between the three.

In this lesson we'll look at the key differences and explain how you use each of them with examples. We'll also look at some key mistakes with modal verbs for habits.

Key Differences Between Will, Would and Used To

Modal Verbs for Habits: Will, Would & Used To

Will – Present or Typical Habits

Subject + Will + Base Form of the Verb

"Will" can be used to describe present habits or typical behaviors that happen regularly. This modal verb for habits expresses things that people tend to do, often in a predictable or characteristic way.

Uses of "Will" for Habitual Actions:

Describes present repeated behaviors (often with adverbs like "always" or "often").
Can express annoying habits (often with "always").
Refers to natural tendencies or characteristic behavior.

Examples:

✅ He will always check his phone first thing in the morning. (Typical habit)
✅ She will talk for hours if you let her. (Characteristic behavior)
✅ They will always arrive late to meetings. (Annoying habit)

🔹 Note: "Will" in this sense does not refer to the future but rather to habits in the present or general time.

Would – Past Habitual Actions

Subject + Would + Base Form of the Verb

"Would" is used to describe past habits or repeated actions, similar to "used to." However, it can only be used for actions (e.g. run, go, eat), not states (e.g. happy, believe, know).

Uses of "Would" for Habitual Actions:

Describes repeated actions in the past (often nostalgic or storytelling).
Does not work for past states (e.g., being, having, feeling).
Often appears in stories or memories about the past.

Examples:

✅ When we were kids, we would play outside until dark. (Past repeated action)
✅ Every summer, my grandparents would take us to the beach. (Regular past habit)
🚫 I would be shy as a child. (Incorrect! "Would" cannot describe past states)
✅ I used to be shy as a child. (Correct!)

🔹 Note: "Would" is commonly used in storytelling when reminiscing about past routines.

Used To – Past Habitual Actions and States

Subject + Would + Base Form of the Verb

"Used to" is also used for past habits, but it can describe both actions and states. This modal verb for habits a semi-modal verb (see below).

Uses of "Used To":

Describes past repeated actions (like "would").
Describes past states (unlike "would").
Emphasizes that the habit is no longer true.

Examples:

✅ I used to go jogging every morning. (Past repeated action)
✅ She used to be very shy. (Past state – "would" cannot be used here.)
✅ We used to have a dog when I was little. (Past state – "would" would be incorrect.)

🔹 Note: "Used to" is more general than "would" because it works for both actions and states.

Why "Used To" Is Semi-Modal

"Used to" partly follows modal verb rules but also behaves like a regular verb in some ways:

1️⃣ It does not function as a true modal in negative and question forms.

Affirmative: I used to play football. ✅
Negative (with "did not"): I didn’t use to play football. (Regular verb behaviour – modals don’t use "do.")
Question (with "did"): Did you use to play football? (Regular verb behaviour)

2️⃣ It refers only to past habits or states, unlike true modals, which can refer to past, present, or future.

I used to live in Paris. (Only past)

3️⃣ It does not take the base form of the verb directly after it.

True modal: She must go. (Base form "go")
"Used to": She used to go. (Includes "to" before the base form)

Common Mistakes with Used To and Would

When using modal verbs for habits, it's not always easy to know whether to choose 'used to' or 'would'. These are some common mistakes.

❌ Incorrect: I would be a teacher when I was younger.
✅ Correct: I used to be a teacher when I was younger.

❌ Incorrect: She would have long hair when she was a child.
✅ Correct: She used to have long hair when she was a child.

✅ Correct: When I was a child, I would visit my grandmother every weekend.
✅ Correct: When I was a child, I used to visit my grandmother every weekend.
(Both are correct because they describe repeated past actions.)