Used to, be used to and get used to look almost the same, but they mean three different things. They’re some of the most confused phrases in English, even for advanced learners. In this lesson, we’ll sort them out once and for all.
Three Phrases, Three Meanings
Here’s the short version. Look carefully at what comes after each phrase.
| Phrase | Meaning | Followed by | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| used to | a past habit or state that isn’t true now | base verb (go, live, eat) | I used to live in London. |
| be used to | something is normal or familiar for you | noun or -ing verb | I’m used to driving on the left. |
| get used to | something is becoming normal for you | noun or -ing verb | I’m getting used to the weather. |
Used To: Things That Were True Before
Use used to + base verb for past habits and past situations that have changed. It tells the listener: this was true then, but it isn’t now.
- “I used to play the guitar.” (I don’t now.)
- “This shop used to be a bank.”
- “We used to go to the seaside every summer.”
- Negative: didn’t use to + base verb: “I didn’t use to like olives.”
- Question: Did + subject + use to? “Did you use to have long hair?”
Spelling tip: after did and didn’t, the standard spelling is use to, without the “d”, because did already shows the past. You’ll often see “didn’t used to” online, but in exams and careful writing, use didn’t use to.
Used to only works for the past. For present habits, use the present simple or usually: “I usually walk to work.” (not “I use to walk to work”).
Be Used To: Things That Feel Normal
Use be used to + noun / -ing when something isn’t strange or difficult for you any more, because you’ve done it many times.
- “I’m used to the noise. I hardly notice it now.”
- “She’s not used to working at night.”
- “Are you used to the food yet?”
Here, to is a preposition, so it’s followed by a noun or an -ing verb, never the base verb. Say “I’m used to getting up early”, not “I’m used to get up early”. The verb be can change tense: I was used to it, you’ll be used to it.
Get Used To: Things Becoming Normal
Use get used to + noun / -ing for the process of something becoming normal. It’s the journey; be used to is the destination.
- “It took me months to get used to the time difference.”
- “I’m slowly getting used to my new glasses.”
- “You’ll get used to it!” (The friendliest thing you can say to anyone starting something new.)
Example: Maria Moves to Manchester
Maria moved from Spain to Manchester last year. Here she is, using all three:
“In Madrid, I used to eat dinner at ten o’clock at night. Here, everyone eats at six! At first it was strange, but now I’m used to it. I’ve even got used to putting milk in my tea. The one thing I can’t get used to is the rain. Honestly, I don’t think I ever will.”
(If Maria needs some help with that last one, our rain vocabulary is a good start.)
Common Mistakes
- “I am used to
walkto work.” Use: I’m used to walking to work. - “I
use togo to the gym every day.” For a present habit, use: I usually go to the gym. - “I used to
goingswimming as a child.” Use: I used to go swimming as a child. - “I can’t
used tothis weather.” Use: I can’t get used to this weather.
How Do You Say It?
In used to, the “s” sounds like an /s/, not a /z/, and the two words run together: “YOOS-tuh”. So used to (the habit phrase) sounds different from used in “I used a pen”, which has a /z/ sound.
More Grammar Lessons
Used to is close to the past simple, and it’s often compared with the past continuous. For a full overview, see our guide to all 9 English tenses.
Learn More
Look it upUsed to – Cambridge GrammarCambridge DictionaryFrequently Asked Questions
“Used to” + base verb talks about past habits that have stopped: “I used to smoke.” “Be used to” + noun or -ing means something is normal for you now: “I’m used to working late.”
The standard form is “didn’t use to”, because “did” already shows the past tense. “Didn’t used to” is common in informal writing, but “didn’t use to” is safer in exams and formal English.
A noun or an -ing verb: “I’m getting used to the cold” or “I’m getting used to living alone.” Never the base verb.
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