Grammar / B1+ Grammar lessons and exercises / Used to, be used to, get used to
Used to, Be Used to, Get Used to – Grammar Chart
🟦Used to + Infinitive → Past Habits & States
We use used to + base verb to talk about:
• Repeated actions in the past that no longer happen.
• States or situations that were true in the past but are not true now.
✅ When I was a child, I used to go skiing every winter.
✅ From age 12 to 16, I used to dance at weekends.
✅ As a child, I used to be blond.
✅ I used to live with my mum.
🔁 Negative: didn’t use to
❓ Question: Did you use to...?
⚠️ No present form! For present habits, use usually, often, normally + present simple.
🟩Be used to + noun / -ing → Accustomed Now
Be used to means you are **already accustomed** to something. It describes a current state of familiarity.
After to (a preposition), use a noun or -ing verb.
✅ Now I’m used to getting up at 6 a.m.
✅ I’m still not used to driving on the left.
✅ She’s used to cold weather.
💡 Be used to is a **state** → don’t use continuous tenses: ✅ “I’m used to it.” ❌ “I’m being used to it.”
🟪Get used to + noun / -ing → Becoming Accustomed
Get used to describes the **process** of becoming accustomed to something new, strange, or difficult.
✅ I’m still getting used to getting up so early.
✅ You’ll get used to working with John.
✅ It’s hard now, but you’ll get used to the noise.
💡 Get used to is often used in **continuous** or **future** tenses because it’s an ongoing process.
🟨🔑 Critical Difference: "to" is NOT the same!
• After used to, to is part of the infinitive → use base verb. • After be/get used to, to is a preposition → use noun or -ing verb.
✅ I used to play basketball. (past habit)
✅ I’m used to playing basketball now. (accustomed)
✅ I’m getting used to the schedule. (process)
📌 Key Rules:
🔸 Used to + base verb → past habits/states (no longer true)
🔸 Be used to + noun/-ing → already accustomed (current state)
🔸 Get used to + noun/-ing → process of becoming accustomed
🔸 Didn’t use to / Did you use to...? for negatives/questions
🔸 No present form of used to — use usually + present simple instead