"Understanding the Differences: 'Be Used', 'Be Used To', and 'Get Used To'"

Now, for an interesting topic! Today we will go over: Be used to, used to, and get used to. Three structures that look very similar, however, one of them, is not like the others. Can you guess what one it is? Take a look at the examples below, and based on the context, see if you can elicit the meaning.

Be used to

1. "She is used to the cold weather since she grew up in a northern climate."

2. "I am used to working long hours because of my demanding job."

3. "They are used to the noise of the city as they have lived in urban areas their entire lives."

There are things that you are used to in your life, what are they?

Used to

1. "I used to play the piano when I was younger, but I haven't played in years."

2. "He used to live in Paris before moving to London."

3. "We used to go camping every summer, but we haven't done it in a while."

There are things that you used to do in your life, what are they?

Get used to

1. "It took me some time to get used to the new office environment."

2. "She is getting used to the time difference after traveling to a different time zone."

3. "They are getting used to the routine of their new school."

There are things that you got used to in your life, what are they?

Be used to

1. Although I have lived in Mexico for a year, I am still not used to the heat. It is too hot for me.

2. After living in Canada for a year, I am finally used to the cold.

3. I am used to waking up early for work.

4. My dad is used to working every Saturday.

5. I am not used to going to bed early, it is still hard for me.

Read the sentences above, and think about things that you are used to. For example, maybe you are used to waiting for the bus, or maybe you are used to working late. Based on the context, what do you think the meaning is? When we we use the structure, be + used to, what we are saying is that we are accustomed to something, or familiar with something. We have done or seen something so many times that we are accustomed to it or familiar to it.

Affirmative form

Subject + (Form of "be") + "used to" + Gerund

When the object is a verb, we use a gerund.

• A gerund is a verb form that functions as a noun and is derived from a verb by adding the suffix "-ing" to its base form. In other words, a gerund is a verb that is used as a noun.

Remember to conjugate be depending on the subject.

1. I am used to running in the morning.

2. She is used to cooking dinner together.

3. She is used to studying late at night.

4. We are used to waking up early on weekends.

5. They are used to hiking in the mountains.

Negative form

Subject + (Form of "be") + "not" + "used to" + Gerund

Subject + (Form of "be") + "not" + "used to" + noun

Subject + (Form of "be") + "not" + "used to" + pronoun

Now in life there are somethings that we are not used to. When this is the case, we add not before used to. This states that we are not accustomed to, or familiar with something.

1. I am not used to running in the morning.

2. She is not used to cooking dinner together.

3. She is not used to studying late at night.

4. We are not used to waking up early on weekends.

5. They are not used to hiking in the mountains.

Again, all these sentences talk about actions that the subjects are not accustomed to or familiar with.

Get used to

1. "Somethings take time, but don't worry you will get used to it"

2. ."I am getting used to the new schedule at work."

3. "I recently moved to a new city, and it took some time, but I finally got used to the traffic and noise."

4. "Moving to a different climate was difficult at first, but after a while, I got used to the colder temperatures."

5. "Learning to play a musical instrument can be frustrating initially, but with regular practice, I eventually got used to the finger movements and chords"

These examples have one thing in common. They refer to the process of "becoming." At first, the subject was not comfortable, but over time, they became comfortable. Get used to refers to to change or process of becoming comfortable with something.

Affirmative form

Subject+ get used to + gerund

I am getting used to studying late at night.

Subject + get used to + pronoun

We get used to his presence.

Subject + get used to + noun

She got used to the new job quickly.

These are three different forms for the affirmative. Think about situations that you got used to, and write some examples!

1. They are getting used to working remotely.

2. I got used to the busy city life.

3. She got used

4. to her new role as a manager.

5. We will get used to waking up early.

6. He is getting used to the unfamiliar surroundings.

Negative form

We cannot become used to everything we do. The process of becoming used to something does not happen, or happens very slowly. Now, of course, you want to learn how to do that :).

When we want to say that we cannot get used to something we use:

• "Subject +not + get + used to."

1. "I'm not getting used to the taste of coffee no matter how many times I try it."

2. "She's not getting used to the new schedule and finding it difficult to adjust."

3. "He's not getting used to the cold weather after living in a warm climate for so long."

4. "They're not getting used to the long commute and feeling exhausted every day."

5. "We're not getting used to the constant interruptions during our work meetings."

Each of these example states that the process of becoming used to a situation, task, or event is difficult, challenging, or not happening.

Interrogative form

When our friend starts a new job, we cant to ask how they are feeling, if they are liking it, and of course, if they are getting used to it. We can do that by:

• "To be + subject + getting used to + object?"

1. Are you getting used to the taste of coffee?"

2. "Is she getting used to the new schedule?"

3. "Is he getting used to the cold weather after living in a warm climate for so long?"

4. "Are they getting used to the long commute?"

5. "Are we getting used to the constant interruptions during our work meetings?"

Each of these examples asks if the subject is or has become used to something.

Used to

1. I used to be a nurse

2. I used to live in Canada.

3. I used to play hockey.

4. I used to study Portuguese.

What do all of these statements have in common? Well, these are things that were true in the past but are no longer true in the present. We use, used to, to talk about things that are no longer true in the present.

1. In the past, I was a nurse, but now I am a teacher.

2. In the past, I played hockey, but now I do not.

3. In the past, I lived in Canada, but now I live in Mexico.

4. In the past, I studied Portuguese, but now I study Spanish.

Form

Subject + used to + infinitive

1. "I used to play the piano when I was younger."

2. "She used to live in London before moving to Paris."

3. "They used to go camping every summer."

4. "He used to eat meat, but now he's a vegetarian."

5. "We used to visit our grandparents every Sunday."

In each example, used to, is followed by the base verb

• Used to + play

• Used to +live

• Used to + go

• Used to +eat

• Used to + visit

Now, for negatives, how do you think we write it?

Did not + use to + infinitive.

Wait a minute, it looks like something is missing. Pay attention to the spelling, in the negative there is no d on the end of use to. That is because didn't refers to the past. So, in the negative the form is: Subject+ did not + use to.

1. I didn't use to play the piano when I was younger."

2. "She didn't use to live in London before moving to Paris."

3. "They didn't use to go camping every summer."

4. "He didn't use to eat meat; he was always a vegetarian."

5. "We didn't use to visit our grandparents every Sunday."

Wait a minute, something is missing.

In each example, did not + use to + infinitive.

Didn't use to + play

Didn't use to + live

Didn't use to + go

Didn't use to + eat

Didn't use to + visit

Finally, we have the interrogative.

Did + subject + use to + infinitive + rest of sentence

1. Did you use to play the piano when you were younger?"

2. "Did she use to live in London before moving to Paris?"

3. "Did they use to go camping every summer?"

4. "Did he use to eat meat, or has he always been a vegetarian?"

5. "Did we use to visit our grandparents every Sunday?"

Homework

Of course, we cannot finish without homework. Your homework is to make 3 examples for each structure, one negative, one interrogative, and one affirmative! Do not worry, in time, you will be used to doing your homework :)