However, there is an important difference between 'would' and 'used to'. 'Used to' can be used to talk about past states as well as past repeated actions and habits, but 'would' is only used to talk about past habits. ... If a past action happened only once, 'used to' can not be used.

Can you use would to talk about the past?

We can use would to talk about repeated past actions that don't happen any more. Every Saturday I would go on a long bike ride. My dad would read me amazing stories every night at bedtime. would for past habits is slightly more formal than used to.

Can would be used in past tense?

would is the past tense form of will. Because it is a past tense, it is used: to talk about the past.