ENGLISH GRAMMAR
To be - To get used to:
be or become
accustomed to something
(examples with the verb 'drive')
The structure be or get used to (followed by a noun or a verb ending in -ing) is often confusing for learners of English.
Below you will find an explanation and examples of use.
AFFIRMATIVE | NEGATIVE | INTERROGATIVE | |
Long Form | Contracted Form | ||
I am used to driving | I am not used to driving | I'm not used to driving | Am I used to driving? |
You are used to driving | You are not used to driving | You're not used to driving | Are you used to driving? |
He/she is used to driving | He/she is not used to driving | He/she isn't used to driving | Is he/she used to driving? |
We are used to driving | We are not used to driving | We're not used to driving | Are we used to driving? |
You are used to driving | You are not used to driving | You're not used to driving | Are you used to driving? |
They are used to driving | They are not used to driving | They're not used to driving | Are they used to driving? |
- To be used to something
means to be accustomed to it,
to do something so regularly that it is now
familiar, or you have learned to accept it.
- To get used to something
means to become accustomed to it.
- Be or get 'used to' is followed either by a
noun or by a verb ending in -ing.
- Noun
- Tom is used to noise.
-
Julie is used to
hard work.
- Verb
- Tom is used to living in a noisy street.
-
Julie is used to working hard.
- Noun
- 'Used to' is used with be and
get in all tenses : past, present, future and conditional.
- Now that I live in France, I am used to driving on the right.
- When you move to the city, you will get used to noise.
- Before I lived in Italy, I wasn't used to eating pasta. I got used to it.
- I wasn't used to the weather. It took
me some time to get used to it.
Subject | Verb | Noun | Verb in -ing form | |
Tom | is | used to | walking to work | |
Laura | is not | used to | spicy food | |
Traffic wardens | are | used to | spicy food | |
Tourists to Britain | are not | used to | driving on the left | |
Our grandparents | were not | used to | mobile phones | |
Ski instructors | get | used to | cold weather | |
Pedro | has got | used to | speaking English | |
Alex | will get | used to | living in a big city |
NB : Do not confuse with
the structure 'used to' +
infinitive (example: I used to smoke).
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