Used to, be used to and get used to
I used to live alone (the past), I'm used to living alone (it's normal), I'm getting used to it (it's becoming normal).
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Three structures look almost the same but mean different things. Used to + verb is about the past: something that was true or happened regularly and isn't true now. Be used to and get used to are about being or becoming familiar with something, and they are followed by a noun or an -ing form.
Three structures
Structure | Meaning |
|---|---|
used to + verb | a past habit or state, not now |
be used to + noun / -ing | it is familiar, not strange |
get used to + noun / -ing | it is becoming familiar |
- I used to work at night.
(I don't now.)
- I'm used to working at night.
(It's normal for me.)
- I'm getting used to working at night.
(It's starting to feel normal.)
Used to + verb: the past
You met this at B1. Used to + verb describes a past habit or state that has changed. It has no present form.
- We used to live in a small flat in the centre.
- There used to be a cinema on this corner.
- Did you use to play any sport at school?
Be used to + noun or -ing: it feels normal
Here used is an adjective that means "familiar with", and to is a preposition. After a preposition, a verb takes -ing. A noun or a pronoun can also follow.
- I'm used to the noise now. I don't even hear it.
- She's used to working long hours.
- We aren't used to such hot weather.
- Are you used to it yet?
- Incorrect: I'm used to get up early.
- Correct: I'm used to getting up early.In be used to, to is a preposition, so the verb after it takes -ing.
Be can be in any tense: When I lived in Norway, I was used to the cold. In a month you'll be used to it.
Get used to: becoming familiar
Get used to describes the change: something strange slowly becomes normal. Like be used to, it is followed by a noun or -ing.
- It took me a month to get used to the new job.
- You'll soon get used to driving on the left.
- I'm still getting used to my new glasses.
- I've finally got used to the food here.
- Incorrect: I can't get used to wake up at five.
- Correct: I can't get used to waking up at five.Get used to is followed by -ing, just like be used to.
In American English the present perfect is have gotten used to.
Be used to or get used to?
Be used to is a state: it is already normal. Get used to is the process of reaching that state.
- I got used to the cold after a few weeks. Now I'm used to it.
- Don't worry about the new software. You'll get used to it.
- He's lived here for years, so he's completely used to the traffic.
Used to or be used to?
Ask two questions. Is there a form of be or get before used to? Is the meaning "familiar"? Then the next verb takes -ing. If not, the meaning is a past habit, and the next verb is the base form.
- Incorrect: I used to living in a big city, so the noise doesn't bother me.
- Correct: I'm used to living in a big city, so the noise doesn't bother me.The meaning is "it is normal for me now", so you need be: I'm used to.
- Incorrect: When I was a student, I was used to go to bed at three.
- Correct: When I was a student, I used to go to bed at three.A past habit is used to + verb, without be.
Spelling and sound
In all three structures the word is written used, with -d, and it sounds like /juːst/. Only in negatives and questions with did does the past habit form lose the -d: Did you use to...? With be and get, used never changes.
- Incorrect: Did you get use to the weather?
- Correct: Did you get used to the weather?In get used to, used is an adjective, so it keeps -d, even after did.
- Incorrect: I'm not use to eating so late.
- Correct: I'm not used to eating so late.
The verb use (/juːz/) is a different word: I used a knife to open it.
A more formal way to say be used to is be accustomed to: She is accustomed to working under pressure.