Why is WOULD used in this sentence?
Could anyone please explain to me why the word WOULD is used in the following sentence?

When I was a small boy, my parents and I WOULD visit my grandparents at least once or twice a month.

Why can't it just be When I ....., my parents and I visited my grandparents.....? what role does WOULD play here?

THANKS IN ADVANCE.

Question

Why is WOULD used in this sentence?
Could anyone please explain to me why the word WOULD is used in the following sentence?

When I was a small boy, my parents and I WOULD visit my grandparents at least once or twice a month.

Why can't it just be When I ....., my parents and I visited my grandparents.....?  what role does WOULD play here?

THANKS IN ADVANCE.

Answer

The use of 'would' indicates that boy and his parents made the visits repeatedly as a matter of habit. Your version also works but the given text is just a little more precise.

Answer

"My parents and I visited my grandparents" = this happened at a certain time in the past.

However, we're talking about something habitual in the past. So here are your options:

"My parents and I used to visit my grandparents" = this happened regularly, but doesn't happen anymore now.

"My parents and I visited my grandparents" = this is a little like "used to", but actually means a predictable habit.

Answer

unreal condition

Answer

Thank you all.

Grammar is nerve-wracking!

Answer

It's because you're expressing something that used to happen in the past, like an habit. But now it doesn't happen anymore. I think so, I'm studying English too.

Answers · 8

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