Be / Get Used to

Be / get used to

Many people get confused over “be used to” and “get used to”. They don’t know when to use which construction. Well, here is the explanation:

Form of BE USED TO

BE USED TO + NOUN/PRONOUN/-ING

If you are used to something, it means that you are accustomed to it; you don’t find it new or strange any more.

Look at these examples:

After ten years of working in that factory, I am used to the smell of the chemicals.
I am used to eating in that restaurant. I don’t want to change it.

The construction be used to can be used in any verb forms.

When I was a teenager, I was used to staying up late.
I’m not used to the noise, so my neighbours are driving me crazy.
Are you used to giving presentations in front of a large audience?

Form of GET USED TO

GET USED TO + NOUN/PRONOUN/-ING

Get used to refers to the process of becoming familiar with something. Unlike be used to, which is a state, get used to is an action.

Look at this example sentences:

Now when I’m in England, I’ll have to get used to driving on the left.
It takes more than a year to get used to living in another country.
Have you got used to the accent of the people in New Zealand?

USED TO + BARE INFINITIVE

Note that the construction USED TO + BARE INFINITIVE refers to past states and habits and it can be used only in the Past Simple Tense.

I used to be the best at English in my class.
Did you use to eat a lot of chocolate when you were younger?
Sheila didn’t use to clean her house much in the past, but now she does.

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How to Use Used to

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