I used to get up VERSUS I would get up

[Phoo]

Please tell me the difference b/w two below.

1. I used to get up early when I was a child.
2. I would get up early when I was a child.

Another question about "would", what is the difference?

1. I wish it stopped raining.
2. I wish it would stop raining.

Tnanks!

[Alan]

Hi,

The use of 'would' in your first couplet is often used in a literary/written context or if spoken, is used in a narrative. In spoken English usually the other contruction 'used to' is more common.

In your second couplet it makes more sense to say:

I wish it would stop. Here 'would' is used to indicate something unreal because it is not a factual occurrence but something that the speaker wants to happen.

As in:

I wish you wouldn't make so much noise.

I wish you would listen to me more carefully.

I wish that awful dog would stop barking.

A
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[Phoo]

Thank you, Alan.

So why "used to" is more common in spoken English while "would" is in written English?
What makes it so?

About "would", as you say, it indicats someting unreal ans the speaker want to happen.
However, "wish + past" also funcions as the same, right?
e.g. I wish I knew.... , this means "I don't know but I want to know"
In this sense, I still don't know the difference b/w "would" and "wish + past".
Both indicate unreal.

[Yankee]

Hi Phoo

You should look at the use of would in 'I wish' sentences as a conditional (unreal) form of will -- will in the sense of a "willingness" to do (or not do) something:

- The rain won't stop. (The rain doesn't "want" to stop.) --> I wish the rain would stop.

- He won't help me. (He doesn't want to help me.) --> I wish he would help me.


Other 'I wish' formats:

- It rains a lot in Oregon. --> I wish it didn't rain so much in Oregon.

- The rain didn't stop. --> I wish the rain had stopped.

Does that help at all?

Amy