Page 655 - Practical English Usage 3ed - Michael Swan, Oxford

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would and used to
Used to (see 604) can refer to repeated actions and events in the past, in the same way as would.
When she was old, she used to sit in the comer talking to herselffor hours.
Sometimes he used to bring me little presents without saying why. But only used to can refer to past states. Compare:
When we were children we would / used to go skating every winter.
I used to have an old Rolls-Royce. (BUT NOT : f:tI(jr:tlti: hdffe 1211 Blti: RBII3 RByee.) And we use used to, not would, to talk about regular and important habitual behaviour.
Robert used to playa lot offootball. (NOT RBbert f:tI(jl:tlti: pl6y ...) I used to smoke. (NOT : f:tI(jr:tlti: S1nBke.)
conditional auxiliary: I would ... if
Would (first person also II we should - see 258) is often used as an auxiliary with verbs that refer to unreal or uncertain situations - for example in sentences with if. (Compare the use of willishall to refer to more definite situations.)
I would/should tell you ifI knew.
It would have been nice if he'd thanked you.
We would/should like to talk to you for a minute.
For lUould after lUish. see 630.5. For lUould after ifonly. see 265.
yes and no answers to negatives
In English, yes is used with affirmative sentences and no with negative sentences. In answers to negative questions and statements, yes and no are chosen according to the form of the answer, not in order to show agreement or disagreement with the speaker.
Aren't you going out?- No, I'm not. (NOT Yes, I'm nBt.)
I have no money. -No, I haven't either. (NOT Yes, : MtIen't reB.) Haven't you got a raincoat?- Yes, I have. (NOT NB, J Mffe.)
contradicting
Some languages have a special word for contradicting negative statements or suggestions (e.g. French si or German doch). English does not have a word like this. We often use a short answer structure (see 517).
The phone isn't working. - (Yes,) it is. (NOT The phB,te i3n;'t f:tI(jr'king. - ¥es;) Affirmative sentences are contradicted with negative short answers.
It's raining. - (No,) it isn't.
For more about negative questions. see 368.
For yes and no in answers to DolWould you mind .. .? see 351.
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yes and no 634
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