USED TO/ BE USED TO/ GET USED TO

FORMS

USES

*USED TO/ + INF

DIDNT USE TO

We use USED TO to talk about past habits or

repeated actions or situations/states which
have changed

WOULD + INF

We use would+ inf to talk about repeated

actions in the past (not states) (only action
verbs)

BE USED TO
+ +V+ING
+NOUN/
+ PRONOUN/

We use BE USED TO to talk about a new situation

which is now familiar or less strange.

GET USED TO
+ NOUN/
+PRONOUN/
+V+ING

EXAMPLES
I used to drink about 5 cups of coffee a day but now I only drink
tea.

When I lived in France I would always eat croissants for breakfast.

Carlos is now used to driving on the left. (v+ing)

(Present Simple)
Now we are used to the English rules of the road.
(Present Simple)

THE VERB BE CAN BE USED IN ANY TENSE

(according to the context).

We use GET USED TO to talk about a new situation

which is becoming familiar or less strange.

(noun)

We were not used to them before.

(pronoun)
(Past Simple)
Soon well be used to living in London.
(V+ ING)
(Future will)
I am getting used to the weather. (N)
(Present Cont.)
I was finally getting used to the cold, when spring arrived. (N)
(Past Cont.)

THE VERB GET CAN BE USED IN ANY

TENSE (according to the context).

Every time I go to the USA, I have to get used to different accents.

(N)
(Infinitive).
After two years, I finally got used to getting up early. (V+ING)
(Past Simple)

* USED TO DOES NOT EXIST IN THE PRESENT TENSE. For present habits, use USUALLY+ PRESENT SIMPLE: I usually walk to work.

FOURTH LEVEL UNIT 5.B - USED TO/ GET USED TO/ BE USED TO