Used to, Be used to, Get used to
Talk about habits and adapting to new situations.
- check_circleI can talk about past habits that are no longer true.
- check_circleI can describe things I am accustomed to.
- check_circleI can talk about the process of adapting to something new.
Discover
Meet today's English in a real situation — no rules yet. Read it once and try to guess the pattern in the words in bold. Underlined words open a short definition.
Anna: Hey David, how is your new life in the countryside? I remember you used to live right in the city center!
David: It’s great, but very different! In the city, I was used to hearing traffic all night. Here, it is so quiet that I actually had trouble sleeping at first.
Anna: I can imagine! Are you getting used to it now?
David: Yes, slowly. I am finally getting used to waking up to the sound of birds instead of cars. But there’s one thing I miss. I used to go to that 24-hour cafe whenever I wanted.
Anna: Oh right, there aren’t many shops open late in a small village.
David: Exactly. And the commute to work is longer now. I am not used to driving so much. But honestly, I wouldn’t trade the fresh scenery for anything.
Learn
Now the rules behind what you just saw — explained simply, with examples. Underlined words open a short definition — hover on desktop, tap on a phone.
It is easy to confuse used to, be used to, and get used to because they look very similar, but they have completely different meanings and rules!
Let’s look at the differences.
1. Used to + infinitive (Past habits)
We use used to to talk about habits or states in the past that are not true anymore.
- I used to play tennis every weekend. (I don’t play tennis anymore)
- She used to have long hair. (Now her hair is short)
For negatives and questions, use did / didn’t + use to (without the ‘d’).
- Did you use to live in London?
- I didn’t use to like broccoli, but now I love it!
Common Mistake
Do not use “used to” for present habits.
I use to go to the gym on Mondays.
I usually go to the gym on Mondays.
2. Be used to + -ing / noun (Accustomed to)
We use be used to when something is normal or familiar to us. We have experienced it many times, so it’s not strange anymore.
Notice that it is followed by a noun or a verb ending in -ing.
- I am used to waking up early. (It’s normal for me, it’s not difficult)
- She is used to the cold weather in Canada. (She doesn’t mind the cold)
- We aren’t used to eating so late. (It feels strange to us)
3. Get used to + -ing / noun (The process of adapting)
We use get used to to talk about the process of becoming accustomed to something new. It means something was strange at first, but it is becoming normal.
Like “be used to”, it is also followed by a noun or an -ing verb.
- I moved to Japan last month, and I am getting used to eating with chopsticks.
- It took me a long time to get used to my new job.
- You will eventually get used to the noise in the city.
- used to + infinitive: Past habit. (I used to smoke.)
- be used to + -ing/noun: It is normal now. (I am used to living here.)
- get used to + -ing/noun: The process of adapting. (I am getting used to the new software.)
Practice
Try it yourself. You'll see right away whether you got it right, plus a short explanation of why.
Use It
Now make the language yours in a real task. Use the prompt below — the editor keeps a simple word count, and nothing is saved or graded.
Before you finish — be honest. Can you do these now?