B1+ UPPER USED TO, BE USED TO, GET USED TO
Explicación
⭐
Used To vs Be Used To vs Get Used To
Grammar · B1–B2
📌 What You Will Learn
These three structures look similar but have very different meanings. Master the difference to avoid the most common mistakes in English.
1️⃣ Used To + Base Verb
🔵
Used To + Base Verb
Past habits · Past states no longer true · Past only
✅ Meaning & Use
- Past habits (repeated past actions)
- Past states no longer true
- Only used for the past — no present form
🧱 Structures
Affirmative
Subject+
used to+
base verb
Negative
Subject+
didn't use to+
base verb
Question
Did+
subject+
use to+
base verb?
✅ Examples
"I used to play soccer."
"She used to have long hair."
"We used to travel every summer."
"I didn't use to like coffee."
"My dad didn't use to cook."
"Did you use to live here?"
"Did you use to play video games?"
⚠️ After used to, always use the base form (no -ing). We don't use it for present habits.
✗ I use to go to the gym. (present — WRONG)
✔ I usually go to the gym. (present — CORRECT)
2️⃣ Be Used To + Noun / -ing
🟢
Be Used To + Noun / -ing
Accustomed to · A state · Not strange or difficult anymore
✅ Meaning & Use
- Means: to be accustomed to something
- Describes a state — how you feel now
- Something is no longer strange or difficult
🧱 Structure
Subject+
am/is/are/was/were+
used to+
noun / -ing
✅ Examples
"I am used to waking up early."
"She is used to spicy food."
"I'm used to online classes."
"She's used to working late."
"We aren't used to cold weather."
"He was used to driving long distances."
⚠️ Here, "to" is a preposition, not part of an infinitive. So if a verb follows, it must be in -ing form.
✗ I'm used to wake up early.
✔ I'm used to waking up early.
3️⃣ Get Used To + Noun / -ing
🟣
Get Used To + Noun / -ing
Becoming accustomed · A process · Change over time
✅ Meaning & Use
- Describes the process of becoming accustomed
- Focuses on change over time
- Can be used in any tense
🧱 Structure
Subject+
get (any tense)+
used to+
noun / -ing
✅ Examples
"I'm getting used to my new job."
"You'll get used to living alone."
"I'm getting used to waking up at 6 a.m."
"She got used to her new school."
"You will get used to speaking English every day."
"It takes time to get used to a new city."
🔎 Key Difference Summary
| Structure | Meaning | Time Focus | Verb Form After |
|---|---|---|---|
| used to + verb | Past habit or past state — not true now | Past only | Base verb |
| be used to + noun/-ing | Accustomed (state) | Present or past | Noun / -ing |
| get used to + noun/-ing | Becoming accustomed (process) | Present, past, future | Noun / -ing |
🧠 Practical Vocabulary
| Situation | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| New job | I'm getting used to my new schedule. |
| Moving city | She isn't used to big cities. |
| Childhood memory | I used to play outside every day. |
| New routine | We're used to studying at night. |
| Living abroad | He got used to speaking English at work. |
🎯 Teaching Tip — Which One to Use?
🎯 Ask Yourself These Three Questions…
👉 Is this about the past only — a habit or state that no longer exists?
🔵 used to + base verb
👉 Is this about feeling comfortable now — something no longer strange?
🟢 be used to + -ing
👉 Is this about adapting over time — a process still happening?
🟣 get used to + -ing
📝 Quick Comparison — Same Topic, Three Structures
🔵 Used To
"I used to wake up at 9."
Past habit — I don't do this anymore.
🟢 Be Used To
"I am used to waking up at 6."
State — it's already normal for me now.
🟣 Get Used To
"I am getting used to waking up at 6."
Process — I'm still adapting, it's not fully normal yet.
Ejercicio 1
Instrucción: Select used to, be used to, or get used to from each dropdown to complete the sentences correctly.
Used To
past habit · base verb after
Be Used To
accustomed · state · -ing after
Get Used To
adapting · process · -ing after
🔵 Complete with the Correct Structure
1
🕐 Past habit
When I was younger, I
play outside every afternoon.
2
🏫 Adapting to new school
At first she was nervous, but now she has
it.
3
🌙 Work schedule (in progress)
I am still
working night shifts.
4
🥦 Childhood eating habits
We didn't
eat vegetables when we were kids.
5
🏠 Living alone (now comfortable)
He is
living alone now.
6
❄️ Adapting to cold weather
It took me months to
the cold weather.
7
✉️ Past communication habits
My grandparents
write letters instead of sending emails.
8
🎤 Public speaking (past state)
She wasn't
speaking in public before.
9
💻 Future adaptation
You will
the new software soon.
10
🥤 Teenage habit (past)
I
drink a lot of soda when I was a teenager.
Instrucción: Choose the correct answer (A, B, C or D) to complete each sentence.
Used To
past habit · base verb after
Be Used To
accustomed · state · -ing after
Get Used To
adapting · process · -ing after
🟢 Choose A, B, C or D
1
🕔 Bakery schedule (past)
She ______ wake up at 5 a.m. when she worked at the bakery.
2
🚗 Driving (still adapting)
I'm not ______ driving in heavy traffic yet.
3
🌍 Adapted to living abroad
It was difficult at first, but he ______ living abroad.
4
⛺ Childhood camping habit
We ______ go camping every summer when we were children.
5
💻 Remote work (now accustomed)
She has ______ working remotely.
6
🔊 Future adaptation (noise)
I will ______ the noise soon.
7
🌶️ Past food preference
He didn't ______ like spicy food.
8
📚 Study habits (current state)
She is ______ studying late at night.
9
📋 New routine (past process)
After a few weeks, they ______ the new routine.
10
👻 Childhood belief (past)
I ______ believe in ghosts when I was a child.
Instrucción: Complete the paragraph by typing the correct form of used to, be used to, or get used to. The verb in brackets shows which verb to use.
Used To
past habit · base verb after
Be Used To
accustomed · state · -ing after
Get Used To
adapting · process · -ing after
🟣 Fill in the Blanks in the Story
Last year, I moved from a small town to a big city. At first, I
1
(wasn't used to feeling)
very stressed because everything was so fast.
In my hometown, I
2
(used to know)
everyone, and life was quiet.
Here, I had to
3
(get used to taking)
the subway every day.
At the beginning, I wasn't
4
(used to travelling)
by public transport.
It took me some time to
5
(get used to living)
in a noisy environment.
Back home, I
6
(used to spend)
most afternoons with my family.
Now, after a year, I am completely
7
(used to living)
in the city.
I have also
8
(got used to waking up)
early for work.
At first, I didn't
9
(use to like)
the traffic, but now I have
10
(got used to accepting)
it as part of city life.
📋 Answer Key — Exercise 3
Ejercicio 2
Tower Languages
Online Learning is Today
Created by Julio Ángel R. — Bilingual Educator
Used To · Be Used To · Get Used To
— / 10
Instrucción: Choose the correct form — used to, be used to, or get used to — to complete each sentence. Read carefully: the context (past habit, current state, or ongoing process) is the key!
used to
⏪ Past habit
A repeated action or state in the past — no longer true now.
"I used to play outside." → I don't anymore.
be used to
✅ Current state
Already familiar or accustomed to something — feels normal.
"I am used to spicy food." → It's normal for me now.
get used to
🔄 Ongoing process
The process of becoming accustomed — still adapting.
"I'm getting used to waking up early." → Still adapting.
Check Answers ✓