Be used toGet used to

Look at these pairs of sentences and try to find out what they refer to

• As a teenager, I was used to getting up early.

• As a child, I used to wake up early every 6th of December to open all my presents.

• Normally people aren’t used to eating Indian food because it’s so spicy.

• Some decades ago people used to eat healthier than now.

Look at these pairs of sentences and try to find out what they refer to• As a teenager, I was used to getting up early.

getting up early wasn’t strange or new to me, but normal.

• As a child, I used to wake up early every 6th of December to open all my presents.

Past habit that happened during a long time (all my childhood), but now it’s over.

Look at these pairs of sentences and try to find out what they refer to• Normally people aren’t used to eating Indian food because it’s so spicy.

Eating Indian food is something that is not normal for most people, it’s strange.

• Some decades ago people used to eat healthier than now.

Past habit that happened during a long time (some decades), but that doesn’t happen anymore.

Be used to…• Be used to is a structure for talking about things that are normal, because they happen regularly

and become habitual. The literal translation is: estar acostumat/da or estar aconstrumbrado/a.

• The verb be can be conjugated into different tenses (present, past and future), negations and

questions. Also, you can use it with modal verbs.

Are you used to living alone?

My parents weren’t used to playing videogames.

You’ll be used to working every day, you’ll see.

He might be used to reading every night, that’s why he looks so sleepy in the morning.

Be used to + -ing

Adults are used to drinking coffee.

Be used to…

• Sometimes, instead of using an –ing verb after be used to, we can choose to

replace it with a pronoun,

I didn’t like coffee at first, but now I’m used to it.

Or also a noun phrase:

After some time, couples are used to each other’s obsessions.

Are you used to your new neighbourhood already?

Be used to vs used toCompare:

Be used to + -ingAn action or state that has become habitual at any time. It can be in the present, past or future.

The baby was used to sleeping with her mother.

Students are used to learning some lesson by heart.

Used to + infinitiveA past habit or state true for a long period in the past which is over at the moment of talking.

Children used to spend more time outdoors than nowadays.

At university, Carol used to live in a shared apartment.

Get used to• At first, nobody likes beer but eventually people get used to drinking it.

• If we want to live in the north, we’ll have to get used to the freezing weather.

Get used to + -ing

“acostumbrarse”

Get used to• Get used to doing something is the process made before we are used to something. With this,

we say that something becomes normal for us.

I got used to living alone at university.

• We apply the same rules as with be used to. The verb get can be conjugated into different

tenses and also be used in the affirmative, negative, questions, and also with modal verbs.

Children will get used to using computers for everything!

Can you get used to the neighbours’ loud music? It’s unbearable!

Get used to

• Also, we can choose to use a noun phrase, or a pronoun, after get used to,

instead of using the –ing verb.

I know that living in the city implies a lot of traffic, but I just can’t get used to it!

When children start high school, they have to get used to new habits.

Now let’s check your knowledge! GO TO YOUR PHOTOCOPY “USED TO… LESSON”

1. When James moved to Sweden it took him a few years to …………… the cold weather.

1. When James moved to Sweden it took him a few years to get used to the cold weather.

2. They live in a small village. They ………… noise and pollution.

2. They live in a small village. They aren’t used to noise and pollution.

3. I come from a big city, so when I moved to the countryside, I just couldn’t ………………. the slow pace of life.

3. I come from a big city, so when I moved to the countryside, I just couldn’t get used to the slow pace of life.

4. Harry is a builder. He ………………….. physical work.

4. Harry is a builder. He is used to physical work.

5. Jacob’s wife ………………… his difficult character. They’ve lived together for almost 20 years.

5. Jacob’s wife is used to his difficult character. They’ve lived together for almost 20 years.

6. Living with a flatmate is a bit strange at first. But after a while, I ………………. it.

6. Living with a flatmate is a bit strange at first. But after a while, I got used to it.

7. How was your year in London. ……. you ……… the rain in the end?

7. How was your year in London. Did you get used to the rain in the end?