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Ch 17

Be / Get / Become Used To

Distinguishing used to do vs be used to doing.

Three structures — the difference

be used to
Permanent — already accustomed
I'm used to spicy food.
get used to
Changing — becoming accustomed (informal)
I'm getting used to the cold.
become used to
Changing — formal alternative to 'get'
She became used to living alone.

All three are followed by a noun or -ing form — NOT a bare infinitive.

Watch out: 'I am used to wake up early' is wrong — after 'be used to', use -ing or a noun.

Used to vs Be used to

A critical distinction
used to + bare infinitive → past habit (no longer true)
be used to + noun or -ing → familiarity (now or in the past)
used to = past habit
I used to walk to school.
I no longer do this.
be used to = familiar with
I'm used to walking to school.
I'm familiar with it.
Watch out: 'I am used to wake up early' is wrong. After 'be used to' → -ing.

Common mistakes — FCE Traps

I used to eat spicy food (still do)
→
I am used to eating spicy food
'Used to' = past habit, no longer true
I'm used to wake up early
→
I'm used to waking up early
After 'be used to' → -ing
She is use to living alone
→
She is used to living alone
It's 'used to', not 'use to'
He got used to be cold
→
He got used to the cold / to being cold
After 'get used to' → noun or -ing
Are you used to get up so early?
→
Are you used to getting up so early?
Question form needs -ing

Your turn

Answer out loud — full sentences

Use used to, be used to and get used to.

1
What did you use to do as a child that you don't do now?
2
What are you used to that a visitor might find strange?
3
What was difficult to get used to when you started something new?
4
What are you getting used to at the moment?

Summary

used to
+ bare infinitive
I used to play the violin. (past habit, no longer)
be used to
+ noun or -ing (permanent)
I'm used to the noise.
get used to
+ noun or -ing (changing, informal)
I'm getting used to it.
become used to
+ noun or -ing (formal)
She became used to living alone.
Any tense
be/get/become change tense freely
was used to · will get used to
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