Used To, Be Used To, & Get Used To
These three phrases look and sound similar, but they have very different meanings. Mastering them is a key step to sounding more natural in English.
The Three Forms Explained
1. used to + base verb
Meaning: To talk about past habits or states that are no longer true.
Structure: Subject + used to + base verb
- "I used to play the guitar every day." (But now I don't.)
- "She used to live in New York." (But now she lives somewhere else.)
- "Did you use to work here?" (Note: 'use to' in questions and negatives).
2. be used to + noun / verb-ing
Meaning: To be accustomed to or familiar with something.
Structure: Subject + be + used to + noun/gerund
- "I am used to the cold weather." (I am familiar with it.)
- "He isn't used to working so hard." (He is not accustomed to it.)
- "They are used to the noise." (The noise is normal for them.)
3. get used to + noun / verb-ing
Meaning: The process of becoming accustomed to something.
Structure: Subject + get + used to + noun/gerund
- "It took me a while to get used to the food here." (The process of adapting.)
- "You will soon get used to living in a big city." (You will become familiar with it.)
- "I'm trying to get used to waking up early." (I'm in the process of adapting.)
Quick Memory Trick
used to
PAST HABIT
BE used to
NORMAL / FAMILIAR
GET used to
PROCESS / BECOMING