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Using “used to” Correctly

Using the different forms of “used to” correctly is a grammar topic that gives students a lot of Facebook
dif culty. In this lesson, students review the different ways we can use “used to” in English.

Go over the chart with your students and then have them do the practice activity and Linkedin
conversation questions.

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The Different Ways to Use “used to”

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Look at the chart below and notice the different ways that we can use “used to” in English.

I’m getting used to waking up Reddit

I used to wake up early. I’m used to waking up early.
early.

Print
Subject + “to be” + “used to” + Subject + “get” +“used to” + gerund
Subject + “used to” + base form
gerund or noun or noun

We use this form to talk about We use this form to talk about
something that happened in something that we are

the past that does not happen accustomed to doing. We

anymore. In the sentence typically use this form to talk

above, the speaker is about whether or not

communicating that he/she
woke up early in the past, but
that he/she doesn’t currently
wake up early.
Negative form:
I didn’t use to wake up early.
I didn’t used to wake up early.
Question form:
something is a problem. In the
We use this form to talk about
sentence above, the speaker is
something that we are becoming
communicating that waking up
accustomed to.
early is not a problem because
it is something that he/she is In this form, “used to” can also be
accustomed to doing. followed by a noun:
We’re still getting used to the new
Negative form:
uniforms.
I’m not used to waking up early.

Did you use to wake up early? In this form, “used to” can also

Did you used to wake up early? be followed by a noun:

I wasn’t used to city life, so living

  in Tokyo was dif cult.

Additional examples:

Additional examples: We’re used to working in a high- Additional examples:

I used to live in New York, but pressure environment, so meeting You’ll have to get used to the traf c

now I live in New Jersey. the deadline won’t be a if you move to the city.

Our call centers used to be in the problem. It’s my second week in Canada and
United States, but now they are They weren’t used to working I’m still getting used to the cold

in India. overtime, so it was dif cult at weather.

rst.

Practice

1. ________________a meeting at 8 a.m., but now it’s at 9 a.m.

A. We‘re used to having

B. We used to have
C. We got used to have

2. Being a customer service representative was dif cult at rst, but then I ________________ with
customer complaints.

A. got used to dealing

B. got used to deal
C. was used to dealing

3. Karen just got back from India.  She looks tired.  I think _________________the time change.

A. she’s getting used to

B. she’s used to
C. she used to

4. I don’t like international travel because ________________ away from my family.

A. I’m getting used to being

B. I don’t use to be
C. I’m not used to being

5. ________________ my email at home, but now I always check my email at night.

A. I wasn’t used to check

B. I didn’t use to checking
C. I didn’t use to check

6. She doesn’t like the city because  ________________ in a small town.

A. She’s used to live

B. She’s used to living
C. She used to living

Conversation Questions

With a partner, discuss the following:

1. Compare your current self to how you were as a senior in college. How have you changed?
What did you use to be like? How are you different now?

2. How have you grown as a professional? What did you use to be like? How are you better now?

3. Think about the job you have now. What was challenging when you rst got the job? What are
some things you had to get used to? Is there anything you are still getting used to doing?

4. Moving to another country would be dif cult because I’m used to…

5. Moving to another country would be dif cult because I’m not used to…

6. If you were self-employed, what would be different? What would you have to get used to?

7. Tell your group about your hometown. How has your hometown changed in the last 10 years?
What did it use to be like? What is it like now?

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