Used To, Be Used To and Get Used To
Old habits. Familiar routines. New situations.
By the end: Describe how your life has changed and what you are adapting to.
Try the activities, then check your answers.
The quick answer
Used to + base verb describes a past habit or state that is no longer true. Be used to + noun or -ing means something is familiar. Get used to + noun or -ing describes becoming familiar with it.
Maya has moved from a quiet town to a busy city. Three similar expressions tell three different parts of her story.
Read the three short sections, use the speaking pauses, then check your understanding. The extra-detail panels are optional.
1. Used to, be used to and get used to: meanings
Before
“I used to live in a quiet town.”
That was her situation in the past. She lives somewhere different now.
Familiar now
“I am used to taking the underground.”
This is normal for her now. Familiar does not necessarily mean enjoyable.
Still adapting
“I am getting used to sleeping with traffic outside.”
The noise still feels new, but she is gradually adapting.
| Meaning | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| A changed past habit or state | used to + base verb | I used to walk to work. |
| Something familiar | be used to + noun / -ing | I am used to crowded trains. |
| Becoming familiar | get used to + noun / -ing | I am getting used to commuting. |
Choose the meaning first: Am I describing my old life, something familiar, or a change I am adapting to?
2. Build the sentence accurately
Used to: a past pattern
Positive: I used to cycle.
Negative: I didn’t use to cycle.
Question: Did you use to cycle?
After did / didn’t, use use to in standard written questions and negatives. There is no final d.
Be / get used to: keep the -d
I am used to cycling.
She isn’t used to the traffic.
Did you get used to working late?
Here, used stays unchanged. The verb be or get carries the tense or question form.
Can I use be/get used to in other tenses?
Yes. I was used to sharing a kitchen describes past familiarity. I have got used to sharing a kitchen says that I have adapted, using a common British English form. I will get used to it looks ahead to that change.
Used to + base verb itself only describes the past. For a current habit, say I usually walk, not I use to walk.
Two questions with did ask about different things
Did + use to + base verb. The question asks about a past habit.
Did + get + used to + -ing. The question asks whether you adapted.
3. Similar words, different messages
“I used to work at night.”
Night work was part of my old life. This sentence normally tells you it is no longer my routine.
“I’m used to working at night.”
Night work is familiar to me. This sentence describes familiarity, not an abandoned habit.
One event? Use the past simple: I took the underground for the first time yesterday. Used to needs a repeated habit or a past state, such as I used to be shy.
Used to or would for past habits?
Both can describe repeated past actions once the past setting is clear: When I was a child, we used to visit / would visit my aunt every Sunday.
For a continuing past state, use used to: I used to own a bike. Do not replace it with would own to express that same past state.
Maya’s new routine
Tap a large phrase button to hear its example. Repeat it, then change one detail. Use the player for the complete recording.
Choose an example, or play the complete recording.
Voice: Amanda · 18 seconds · English (United States). Written lesson examples use British English conventions.
Listening focus: Listen once. Which part is an old situation, which is familiar now, and which is still changing?
Read the full transcript
I used to live in a quiet town. Now I live in the city. I am used to taking the underground. I am still getting used to the noise at night. At first, I was not used to sharing a kitchen. Now it feels normal.
Check the listening answer
Old situation: living in a quiet town. Familiar now: taking the underground and sharing a kitchen. Still changing: adapting to the noise at night.
Repair two messages
Say or write a corrected version first. Then open the explanation.
1. “I am used to take the bus.”
Show the correction and reason
I am used to taking the bus.
After be used to, a verb takes -ing. This describes familiarity.
2. “Did you used to live here?”
Show the correction and reason
Did you use to live here?
The past question already has did. Use the base spelling use to.
Mastery quiz
Choose one best answer for each situation. Work without the table first, then check all eight answers. Every choice has an explanation.
Answer key with explanations
Tom used to walk to school. Used to + walk describes a repeated past action that is no longer his routine.
working late Working follows be used to and describes a familiar activity.
I am getting used to it. Am getting used to describes adaptation in progress.
Did you use to swim here? Did + use to + base verb is the standard written question pattern.
I visited that gallery yesterday. The past simple describes the one finished visit yesterday.
Cold mornings are familiar to me. Be used to means familiar or accustomed to.
Did she get used to waking up early? Did + get used to + -ing asks about becoming familiar with a routine.
We used to own a small flat, but we sold it. Used to can describe both old habits and past states, including ownership.
This checks understanding of this lesson. It does not assign an overall English level.
Use it without the model
Say one old habit, one familiar activity and one thing you are adapting to. Explain the difference without looking at the table.
If a form still feels uncertain, revisit its explanation and try a new example. You can return tomorrow for a quick recall check.