Used to vs. Would: Past Habits and States
Feature Used to Would
Form Subject + used to + base verb Subject + would + base verb
Past states
(be, have, like, etc.)		 Yes No
Past repeated actions Yes Yes
Negative form didn't use to + base verb wouldn't + base verb
(but has different meaning)
Question form Did + subject + use to + base verb? Would + subject + base verb?
(less common for habits)
Key Rule to Remember:

The main distinction is that used to can describe both states and actions, while would can only describe repeated actions.

What are you describing?
A state or situation
(being, having, liking)
Use "used to"
I used to live in London
Examples: #3, #5, #6
A repeated action
(playing, going, visiting)
Can use either
I used to play / would play tennis
Examples: #1, #2, #4
Solutions with Explanations:
1

How used to get to school before you had a bike?

Explanation: This is about a repeated action (getting to school). Both "used to" and "would" could work grammatically, but the exercise is looking for "used to".

2

Nicola used to play / would play the piano when she was younger.

Explanation: This describes a repeated action (playing piano), so both "used to" and "would" are correct.

3

We used to live in a flat in the town centre but now we live on the edge of town.

Explanation: This describes a state (living somewhere). Only "used to" can be used for states, not "would".

4

My brother and I would play for hours in the garden in the summer.

Explanation: This describes a repeated action (playing). Both "would" and "used to" are grammatically correct, but the exercise specifically asks for "would".

5

I didn't use to like living in the country but I've got used to it now.

Explanation: This describes a state (liking). Only "used to" can be used for states, and this is in the negative form.

6

There never used to be so much traffic on the road.

Explanation: This describes a state (existence of traffic). Only "used to" can be used for states, and this is in the negative form with "never".