USED TO, BE USED TO, GET USED TO

USED TO + INFINITIVE

- It is used when talk about habits in the past, about an action that happened or was often repeated in the
past, but now does not happen. The word "before" is usually used for translation.

(+) S + USED TO + Verb (infinitive without to)….

- We used to travel a lot when we were younger, but we don’t do now.

(-) S + DID NOT (didn’t) USE TO + VERB (infinitive without to)…

- She didn’t use to drink so much coffee.

(?) DID + S + USE TO + Verb (infinitive without to)…

- Did she use to have an expensive car?

BE USED TO + GERUND OR A NOUN

- It is used to talk about SITUATIONS which are NO LONGER NEW OR UNUSUAL. We can use it in
ALL TENSES but only BE is conjugated.

(+) S + BE USED TO + Verb (gerund –ing form)/ Noun

- He comes from Alaska so he is used to cold weather (BE USED TO + NOUN)

(-) S + BE NOT USED TO + Verb (gerund –ing form)/ Noun

They weren’t used to studying alone until they went to secondary school (BE USED + GERUND)

(?) BE + S + USED TO + Verb (gerund –ing form)/ Noun

Is she used to wearing a suit?

GET USED TO + GERUND OR A NOUN

Eg. I had a lot of problems at first with my new job, but now I’m getting used to the company rules (GET USED TO +
NOUN)

She hasn’t got used to speaking Spanish yet, but she’s making progress (GET USED TO + GERUND)

BE CAREFUL: BE USED TO and GET USED TO DON’T CHANGE in the NEGATIVE and QUESTION FORMS
Was he used to getting up so early when HE in lived in Chicago? (QUESTION)

They weren’t getting used to their new school. (NEGATIVE)

Exercises:

1) Complete with the correct form of used to

Eg. I used to ride a bicycle when I was a child (ride)

Those people …………………………………………….. next door a few months ago. (live)

John ………………………………………………. a waiter, but now he is a cook. (be)

That house ……………………………………………...different when my parents lived there. (look)

We …………………………………………………….. the bus to work, but now we go by car. (take)

I never ………………………………………………….. to the seaside when I was a teenager. (go)

I ………………………………………………………. to classical music very often. (listen)

………………………………………………………………….as much money in the past as they do now? (people/have)

She …………………………………………………………. as hard as she do now. (not work)

…………………………………………………………………… to the same school as your son? (she/go)

My boss ……………………………………………………… a lot, but he’s much calmer now. (shout)

2) Complete with the correct form of be used to

Eg. She is from France and she is new in this country. She isn’t used to speaking Spanish. (speak)

I’ve just bought a computer but I ……………………………………………………………… with it yet. (work)

He’s learning English but he ……………………………………………………………………it all the time. (speak)

They ……………………………………………………………………….. at them. (people/shout)

When I lived near the railway station, I …………………………………………………………….. trains going past. (hear)

I lived in Italy when I was a child and I……………………………………………………………….. Italian (speak)

……………………………………………………………………………………… a uniform to work? (you/wear)

She starts work at 6.00 am so she …………………………………………………………………….. early (get up)

When I start university, I ……………………………………………………………….. at night, so I won’t have any problem. (study)

At first they felt like strangers in their new neighbourhood, but now they ……………………………………….. with their
neighbours for hours (chat)

I…………………………………………………………………………… my mistakes. (not admit)

3) Complete with the correct form of get used to

He ………………………………………………………………….. newspapers in English. (read) Present continuous

………………………………………………………………………… the only woman in the office? (she/be) Present perfect

She moved to the centre of town and now she ………………………………………………………… the noise. Present continuous

She soon ……………………………………………………………….. on the right when she moved to Europe (drive) Past simple

We can’t …………………………………………………………….. in a cold country (live)

He …………………………………………………………………. a car very quickly (drive) Past simple

They ……………………………………………………………………. their new teacher . Past simple

He is a sales representative, but he can’t ………………………………………………………….. in restaurants (eat)

At first I found it hard, but I soon …………………………………………………………….. in public. (speak) Past simple

When I travel to Norway, I’m sure …………………………………………………………………. salmon. Future simple

4) Complete with used to, be used to or get used to

If she wants to lose weight, then she’ll have to …………………………………………………… less. (eat)

When we were children, we ……………………………………………………… on the street. (play)

Sarah is an only child. She ………………………………………………………………. her toys. (not/share)

She works as a teacher so she …………………………………………………….. with children. (deal)

As a nurse, she ……………………………………………………………… night shifts.

I …………………………………………. glasses when I was a child (wear), but now …………………………………………… to contact
lenses.

Before I had the baby I …………………………………………………. (sleep) for eight hours every night.

My sister has bought a piano. She never played any instruments before, but now she ……………………………………………..
it.

He lives in the mountains so he ………………………………………………….. heights.

She couldn’t …………………………………………………………… on her own. (live)

KEY
1) Complete with the correct form of used to

Eg. I used to ride a bicycle when I was a child (ride)

Those people used to live next door a few months ago. (live)

John used to be a waiter, but now he is a cook. (be)

We used to take the bus to work, but now we go by car. (take)

I never used to go to the seaside when I was a teenager. (go)

I used to listen to classical music very often. (listen)

Did people use to have as much money in the past as they do now? (people/have)

She didn’t use to work as hard as she does now. (not work)

Did she use to go to the same school as your son? (she/go)

My boss used to shout a lot, but he’s much calmer now. (shout)

2) Complete with the correct form of be used to

Eg. She is from France and she is new in this country. She isn’t used to speaking Spanish. (speak)

I’ve just bought a computer but I’m not used to working with it yet. (work)

He’s learning English but he isn’t used to speaking it all the time. (speak)

They aren’t used to people shouting at them. (people/shout)

When I lived near the railway station, I was used to hearing trains going past. (hear)

I lived in Italy when I was a child and I was used to speaking Italian (speak)

Are you used to wearing a uniform to work? (you/wear)

She starts work at 6.00 am so she is used to getting up early (get up)

When I start university, I will be used to studying at night, so I won’t have any problem. (study)

At first they felt like strangers in their new neighbourhood, but now they are used to chatting with their neighbours
for hours (chat)

I’m not used to admitting my mistakes. (not/ admit)

3) Complete with the correct form of get used to

Eg. He can’t get used to reading so many books. (read)

He is getting used to reading newspapers in English. (read) Present continuous

Has she got used to being the only woman in the office? (she/be) Present perfect

She moved to the centre of town and now she is getting used to the noise. Present continuous

She soon got used to driving on the right when she moved to Europe (drive) Past simple

We can’t get used to living in a cold country (live)

He got used to driving a car very quickly (drive) Past simple

He is a sales representative, but he can’t get used to eating in restaurants (eat)

At first I found it hard, but I soon got used to speaking in public. (speak) Past simple

When I travel to Norway, I’m sure I will get used to salmon. Future simple

4) Complete with used to, be used to or get used to

If she wants to lose weight, then she’ll have to get used to eating less. (eat)

When we were children, we used to play on the street. (play)

Sarah is an only child. She isn’t used to sharing her toys. (not/share)

She works as a teacher so she is used to dealing with children. (deal)

As a nurse, she is used to night shifts.

I used to wear glasses when I was a child (wear), but now I am used to/I’m getting used to contact lenses.

Before I had the baby I used to sleep (sleep) for eight hours every night.

My sister has bought a piano. She never played any instruments before, but now she’s getting used to it.

He lives in the mountains so he is used to heights.

She couldn’t get used to living on her own. (live)