Shadowing Practice: USED TO and WOULD – an easy explanation! - Learn English Speaking with Video
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1
Hi everyone, welcome to my channel. So, this video is about the difference between 'used to' and 'would' What is the difference between them? So, they are both something that you say when you're talking about the past, when you're specifically talking about something you did in the past but you don't do it anymore, you don't do it now. Let's look at an example: 'I used to go jogging every Saturday.' I used to go jogging every Saturday. It means I went jogging regularly every Saturday but now I don't go jogging every Saturday anymore, it's finished. 'I would go jogging every Saturday/.' The meaning is the same here. I would go jogging every Saturday - it means I did it regularly every Saturday in the past but now I don't go jogging anymore. So, you can see that you can use 'used to' or 'would' in this situation. But there is a difference between them.
2
'Used to' can be used for regular actions such as going jogging - it's an action, it's something that you do, but it can also be used with states. So, a state is not an action, it's not something you do, it's something that you feel, for example. So, the verb 'to like' is a state, you don't do it, you just feel it, it's a state. So, 'used to' is for actions and for states. I used to go jogging is an action and I used to like jogging is a state. Now, 'would' can only be used for actions but not for states So I can say: 'I would go jogging every Saturday' but it is not possible to say 'I would like jogging every Saturday' - that is not correct. So, the difference between 'used to' and 'would' is that 'used to' is for actions and states, and 'would' is just for actions. Now, you tell me - which one should I use: 'used to' or 'would'? 'I ... my dog every morning.' 'Used to' or 'would', or both?
3
So, in this sentence, you can use both because it's an action - walking your dog is something that you do, it's not a state, it's an action. So I can say 'I used to walk my dog' but I can also say 'I would walk my dog'. So both are correct. How about this one?
4
'I ... think that my friends were boring.' 'Used to' or 'would' - which one, or both?
5
So, in this sentence, you need 'used to' because it's a state - thinking is not an action, it's a state, it's something that you feel or that is happening in your head So: 'I used to think that my friends were boring.' You cannot say: 'I would think that my friends were boring' - that is not correct. Ok, I hope you enjoyed this video. Make sure you subscribe to my channel and give this video a thumbs up, and I'll see you next time! Bye!
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This A2 speaking lesson is built on the video “USED TO and WOULD – an easy explanation!”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: jogging, action, Saturday, difference, dog. This video has 5 sentences and 489 words to shadow. The speech runs for 4:39. The speaker talks slowly, about 105 words per minute, so there is time to copy every sound. 89% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is easy to follow.
Key vocabulary in this video
13 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| bore verb | /boɹ/ | To inspire boredom in somebody. |
| subscribe verb | /səbˈskɹaɪb/ | To write (one’s name) at the bottom of a document; to sign (one's name). |
| thumb noun | /ˈθʌm/ | The shortest and thickest digit of the hand that for humans has the most mobility and can be made to oppose (moved to touch) all of the other fingers. |
| verb noun | /vɝb/ | A word that indicates an action, event, or state of being. |
| jog verb | /d͡ʒɑɡ/ | To push slightly; to move or shake with a push or jerk, as to gain the attention of; to jolt. |
| sentence noun | /ˈsɛn.təns/ | The judicial order for a punishment to be imposed on a person convicted of a crime. |
| regularly adverb | /ˈɹɛɡ.jə.lɚ.li/ | With constant frequency or pattern. |
| specifically adverb | /spɪˈsɪf.ɪ.kli/ | In a specific manner, applying to or naming a particular thing or things, expressly, explicitly. |
| correct adjective | /kəˈɹɛkt/ | Free from error; true; accurate. |
| channel noun | /ˈt͡ʃænəl/ | The hollow bed of running waters; (also) the bed of the sea or other body of water. |
| welcome | /ˈwɛl.kəm/ | Greeting given upon someone's arrival. |
| regular adjective | /ˈɹɛɡjəlɚ/ | Bound by religious rule; belonging to a monastic or religious order (often as opposed to secular). |
| finish verb | /ˈfɪnɪʃ/ | To complete (something). |
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| “Used to” used to + verb — a past habit or state that is no longer true | used to go · used to walk · used to think |
| Advice with “should” should + verb — saying what is a good idea | should I use |
| Present continuous am/is/are + -ing — something happening right now or around now | you're talking · is happening |
| Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or prediction | I'll see |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 8 contractions and reduced forms, such as don't, you're, I'll. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- Long words — get the stress right: regularly /ˈɹɛɡ.jə.lɚ.li/, specifically /spɪˈsɪf.ɪ.kli/
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Shadow it sentence by sentence at normal speed, repeating each one until your rhythm matches the speaker.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like bore, subscribe, thumb.
What is the Shadowing Technique?
Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.