Updated: May 20
Knowing the difference between used to, be used, and get used to can make a real difference in your fluency and understanding when communicating in English. For example, look at these three phrases which have 'used to' in them:
I used to swim in the sea.
I am used to swimming in the sea.
I got used to swimming in the sea.
What is the difference? How different are the meanings? Are they talking about the past, present, or future?
In short, each of these phrases carries a very different meaning. Let's look at them one by one to help you on your road to fluency and natural-sounding English!
Used to
'used to' is a verb phrase that describes a past habit that is no longer done. It can only be used to talk about the past.
Look at this example,
I used to smoke.
This means, I smoked in the past, it was a habit, but now I don't smoke.
Grammar tip 💡
used to + verb base (➕)
didn't use to + verb base (➖)
*used to is only for the past
I used to going to the gym every Sunday. ❌ (going should be go)
I used to go to the gym every Sunday. ✅
👀 I used to go to the gym every Sunday. = I had a habit of going to the gym every Sunday but I don't go anymore.
Here are some more examples of used to:
Example USED TO | Meaning |
|---|---|
I used to be fat. | I was fat before, but now I am not. |
I used to really like traveling. | I liked traveling before but now I don't. |
We used to be friends when I was young. | We were friends before, but now we aren't. |
I used to live in California. | I lived in California before and now I don't. |
He used to have a really nice car. | He had a nice car before but now he doesn't; maybe he has an ugly car now :) |
Be Used to
To 'be used to something or someone' means that you are familiar with it/them because you have some previous experience with it/them and it is normal for you.
Look at this example,
I'm used to waking up early because my children go to school at 7 am.
This means that waking up early is something normal for me; it is something I have experience doing, so it is a familiar and normal thing for me.
Grammar tip 💡
be + used to + verb-ing (➕)
be + not + used to verb -ing (➖)
*can be used for present, past, and future situations
I used to eating dinner late at night. ❌ (to be is missing 🙀 = I am used to eating....✅)
I am used to eat dinner late at night. ❌ (eat should be eating verb-ing 🧐 = I am used to eating ✅ ....)
👀 I am used to eating dinner late at night = Eating dinner late at night is normal for me.
Example BE USED TO | Meaning |
|---|---|
We're used to traveling abroad. | Traveling abroad is a normal thing for us, we have experience with that. |
I'm not used to spicy food, it makes my stomach hurt. | Eating spicy food is not normal for, it is not something I have a lot of experience with and it makes my stomach hurt. |
My children are used to eating Japanese food since we eat it twice a week. | My children are familiar with Japanese food, it is normal for them because we eat it twice per week. |
My colleague isn't used to cold weather; it's really difficult for her during winter. | My colleague doesn't have a lot of experience with cold weather so it is not normal for her; it is difficult during the winter. |
I am used to people speaking English with accents because I am an English teacher. | I have a lot of experience with people speaking English with accents, because I'm an English teacher - so it's normal for me. |
Get Used to
To 'get used to something or someone' means to become familiar or accustomed to something or someone that was strange or very different at first.
For example,
After living in Japan for 10 years, I got used to eating sushi.
This means that maybe when you first encountered or discovered sushi it was strange to you, but after a while, it became normal for you ➡️ so you got used to it...during the 10 years that you lived there.
Grammar tip 💡
get + used to + verb-ing (➕)
don't/ didn't get + used to verb -ing (➖)
*can be used for present, past, and future situations
I used to sleeping only 4 hours a night once my children were born. ❌ (got is missing 🙀 = I got used to sleeping....✅)
I got used to sleep only 4 hours a night once my children were born. ❌ (sleep should be sleeping 🧐 = I got used to sleeping ✅ ....)
👀 me got used to sleeping only 4 hours a night once my children were born. = I became accustomed to sleeping only 4 hours a day, or it became normal for me once my children were born.
More examples of get used to in action:
Examples Get Used to | Meaning |
|---|---|
I haven't gotten used to this city yet. | This city is still strange and different for me, I am not accustomed to it yet. |
Living in America was difficult for me at first, but I got used to it after a year. | Living in America was difficult for me at first but it became normal for me, or I became accustomed to it after a year. |
I got used to driving 1 hour to work when I started this job. | I became familiar with, or I got accustomed to driving 1 hour to work when I started this job. |
When I left my parents' house, I had to get used to living alone. | When I left my parents' house, I had to become accustomed to living alone. |
No matter how many times I see the, I will never get used to snakes! | No matter how many times I see them, I will never become accustomed to snakes - they will never be normal things for me! |
Practice
Use the activity to practice your understanding of get used to, be used to, and used to.
Time to start talking!
Words in this post
In short (phrase) to sum up; briefly
encounter (verb) to come in contact with, to unexpectedly be faced with, or experience