Did vs Would

Question

I went to swim when I was a child/ I would go to swim when I was a child. what is the difference?

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

Anonymous~~I went to swim when I was a child/ I would go to swim when I was a child. what is the difference?~~
I went swimming when I was a child. / I would go swimming when I was a child. What is the difference?

In the second version (would go) there is no doubt that going swimming was something that happened habitually.

In the first version (went) the swimming may have happened habitually or it may have happened only once.

Adding 'often' or 'once' in the first version would make the intention clearer. (went swimming often; went swimming once)
Adding 'once' in the second version would make it contradictory. (~~would go swimming once~~)

CJ

Did vs Would

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