Examiner: Describe a place you have visited in the past.
Candidate: [...] When I was a student, I would go there all the time and hang out with my friends.
I don't understand what "would" means in this case. Please help me; thanks in advance.
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1Related question, The habitual past “would” versus “simple past” tense. Did you try to look it up in the dictionary? See the No. 3 definition of Merriam-Webster.– user140086Commented Feb 29, 2016 at 8:41
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Welcome to English Language & Usage. Your question seems to be too basic for this community. For future questions, I'd like to advise you to visit our sister site English Language Learners, but please make sure you take the tour and visit their Help Center before posting any question. Please don't post the same question on English Language Learners.– user140086Commented Feb 29, 2016 at 8:42
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thanks Rathony so much <3 . I tried to look it up in Oxford but I just looked over . I 'm sorry :(– Hùng MạnhCommented Feb 29, 2016 at 8:54
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Not every dictionary has the same definition. You have to look up at least 2 or 3 dictionaries. As I said, it would be better for you to go to ELL which is a question and answer site for speakers of other languages learning English.– user140086Commented Feb 29, 2016 at 9:04
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learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/quick-grammar/…– rogermueCommented Feb 29, 2016 at 11:37
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1 Answer
In this case, "would" means "I went there often, during the time I was a student". It describes an habit, it is equivalent to "I used to go there often".
