In this blog post, you’ll learn the difference between “used to,” “get used to,” and “be used to” in English grammar. These terms can be confusing, but with examples and helpful ESL pictures, you’ll master their usage in no time. Understanding these terms will improve your communication skills in various contexts.
Used To—Get Used To—Be Used To
“Used to” in English
Structures of “used to” for positive, negative, and question sentences:
Positive Sentence:
- Subject + used to + V (infinitive).
Negative Sentence:
- Subject + didn’t use to + V (infinitive).
(We can also use never used to + infinitive.).
In more formal or written English, used not to + infinitive is sometimes used.
Question form:
- Did + subject + use to + V (infinitive)
How to Use “Used to”
We use the structure used to do something when we talk about something we did regularly in the past but do not do it now. Used to is different from the past simply because it emphasizes that the action was repeated many times.
Example:
- He used to go to our school.
We also use used to + the infinitive for past situations. It emphasizes that the situations are no longer true.
- She used to be overweight but became she a model last year.
How to Use: Be/Get Used to
Form
Positive Sentence:
- Subject + be/get used to + noun/pronoun/gerund.
Negative Sentence:
- Subject + not be/not get used to + noun/pronoun/gerund.
Question Form:
- Be + subject + used to + noun/pronoun/gerund?
And
- Auxiliary verb + subject + get used to + noun/pronoun/gerund?
How to Use Be used to
“Be used to” is used to express that a situation is not new or strange, or is no longer new or strange. You have experienced it many times.
Examples:
- He is used to swimming every day.
- I‘m not used to getting up early.
Get used to is used to express that an action/situation becomes less strange or new, or becomes more comfortable.
Examples:
- Staff will have to get used to a new way of working.
- I could not get used to driving on the wrong side of the street!
Note:
- Used to be about the past, so there is no present or future form.
- In the negative didn’t use to and the question did you use to, notice that there is no d on use.
- Be used to can be modified with adverbs.
Example:
- I’m very used to his strange behavior now.
Used To, Get Used to, Be Used to
