Intermediate Grammar – Get used to, be used to and used to

Welcome ABA Friend!

Let’s look at something that many students get a bit confused with. First of all, read the following passage:

Do you think we will ever get used to working or studying all the time? I am used to working a lot. I didn’t use to like it but now I do. It keeps my busy and active all day. I used to work in an office and I was sitting all day, which I hated. Now I get to move around visit clients and have fun talking to people. I am used to working long hours too, but the pay is good so I don’t mind. My boss asked me the other day if I would like to move up in the company, which means more hours. I said I would first have to get used to the idea and get back to him.

Now, let’s have a look at how and when to use get used to, be used to and used to + infinitive.

Get used to – If you get used to something or you are getting used to something, it means you are becoming accustomed to it – it was strange, now it’s not so strange.

Be used to -If you are used to something, you are accustomed to it – you don’t find it unusual.

Used to + infinitive – We use ‘used to’ to talk about things that happened in the past – actions or states – that no longer happen now.

Remember that in negatives and questions with “did” we drop the “d” of “used to”and it becomes “use to”.

For example:

“I use to go horse riding all the time, but now I don’t have time”

“I never used to have time to go on holidays”

And it is that simple, but like we always say in ABA: practice makes perfect!

Did you like this lesson? TWEET IT OUT: Do you know the difference between get used to, used to and be used to? Learn now #esl