Used To/Would ("I used to think" vs "I would think")

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

I used to think that I loved you much and always say that I couldn’t love much more.

I would think that I loved you much and always say that I couldn’t love much more.

Is there any meaning difference btw them?

2

Hi Volcano,

‘Would’ in place of ‘used to’ is very much a narrative construction and is often used with some kind of frequency adverb or adverb phrase as in: When we were children we would go every Sunday to visit our grandmother.

In your sentence: I would think that I loved you much and always say that I couldn’t love much more., there is a bit of uncertainty as to the meaning of ‘would’. Is it a conditional or what? Clearly it isn’t a conditional and so to make it clear that this is a use of ‘would’ meaning ‘used to’ you need to introduce some time adverb as: I would sometimes think … I would often think …

Alan

3

M Lewis, of The English Verb, says that “would”, when used for past reference, is often connected with nostalgia more that “used to” is. Don’t know if that true though. What do you think, Alan?

I think it’s the same use as “he would bite his nails” or “he would slurp his soup so” or “he would always bring flowers”.

But the “time” expression could also be placed elsewhere, couldn’t it?

Back in those days, I would think that I loved you much and always say that I couldn’t love much more.

I guess I was a fool, a child back then. I would think that I loved you much and always say that I couldn’t love much more.

4

Just love the way you quote, M.
.

5

If poor-quoting were a habit of mine, I could understand your comment.

6

“I loved you much” sounds a little odd to me. I would amend it to e.g.

  1. I used to think that I loved you very much and would always say that I couldn’t love you much more.

MrP