Used To, Be Used To and Get Used To

1.

2.

Discuss the question.
What activity did you used to do as a child but don’t do now?
When I was younger, I used to be in my
school’s netball team. We played in
tournaments around the country. I
haven’t played netball since I left school.
Now I do other sports like running.
Click to see an example

3.

Discuss the question.
What’s an activity that you’re used to doing in the morning but found
difficult to do in the past?
Now, I’m used to waking up really early. I
like to exercise before work, which
means I need to wake up around 5:30
am. But it never used to be the case. I
hated waking up early in my 20s.
Click to see an example

4.

Discuss the question.
What’s something in your routine, or work or your studies that you are
getting used to doing?
I’m still getting used to the way of life in
my new city. I moved to London last
year, but I’m still not used to the hustle
and bustle here. I find myself wanting to
spend most of my time at home, but I
know I need to go out more and enjoy
the social life here.
Click to see an example

5.

Used To
We use ‘used to’ to talk about past habits or states that are no longer true
in the present.
Example: I used to play in a
music group but I quit after
university.
Example: My sister used to
have blonde hair until she dyed
it dark brown.
We always use this form of ‘used to’ followed by the form infinitive. We
can use it in the negative form with ‘did not’ and ‘use to’ and in questions.
Example: She didn’t use to like
tomatoes, but now she loves
them!
Example: Did he use to live in
our neighbourhood? I don’t
recognise him.

6.

Used To
Complete the sentences.
1.
used
They
to see each other everyday, but now they’re too
busy with work.
2.
use
I didn’t
to work in the office, I was working from home
until three months ago.
3.
Did
you use to go to St Michael’s school? I think I was
in your class!

7.

Used To
Complete the sentences.
4.
5.
6.
to
We never used
like each other! We never used to get on
until we joined the same zumba class.
She always used
Christmas holidays.
Did he
use
to go skiing with her husband during the
to have curly hair and glasses?

8.

Be Used To
We use ‘be used to’ to talk about activities or situations that we are
accustomed to or familiar with.
Example: We’re used to the hot summers here.
We typically use ‘be used to’ for situations in the past and in the present.
Example: She was used to waking up early because of her job.
Example: We knew we would be used to living with each other
after a few months.

9.

Be Used To
We can also use ‘be used to’ in negative sentence with ‘not’ and
also in questions.
Example: I hope he’s ok. He’s not used to spending his birthday alone.
Example: There are so many tourists this year. Are you used to
having this amount of people in your town?
Example: Oh, you’re working from home! Are you used to it now?
The structure ‘be used to’ can be followed by a noun phrase, a verb in the
-ing form or a pronoun.

10.

Be Used To
Choose the best answer for each statement.
Speaker 1
Are you used to eating
a plant-based diet?
Speaker 2
A.
Yes! I used to eat meat every day,
especially with my grandparents.
B.
I’m used to it now, but only
because there are more options
available.
C
No, not really. I’m used to the
weather but not the language.

11.

Be Used To
Choose the best answer for each statement.
Speaker 1
I’m not sure I like our
new manager.
Speaker 2
A.
I know. I think it’s because she’s
not used to managing a big team.
B.
I’m used to listening to podcasts
and videos.
C
I’m not happy either. Are you used
to the new app? It’s really slow at
uploading photos onto my profile.

12.

Be Used To
Choose the best answer for each statement.
Speaker 1
I don’t know how to
use the new system.
Can you help me?
Speaker 2
A.
I’m not sure. I’m used to waking up
after 10 am.
B.
Did you used to live in the South?
C
Absolutely. I’ve had it for a few
months now, so I’m used to the
new functions.

13.

Get Used To
We can use ‘get used to’ to talk about situations that we’re not quite
familiar with or accustomed to. We often use it to show we’re in the
process of becoming ‘used to’ something.
Example: Now Sarah has been here for a few months, she’s
getting used to living in a bigger city.
In this sentence, it’s explaining that Sarah isn’t fully accustomed to living
in a bigger city. But, over time, she’s becoming more familiar with it.

14.

Get Used To
We can use ‘get used to’ in different tenses to talk about situations in the
past, present and future. Like ‘be used to’, ‘get used to’ can be followed
by a noun phrase, a verb in the -ing form or a pronoun. We can also use it
in negative sentences with ‘not’ and questions.
Example: The town has been getting used to cold winters.
Example: I’m not getting used to speaking a foreign
language every day. It’s too difficult..
Example: Did they ever get used to the noise from the
factory next to their home?

15.

Get Used To
Complete the sentences
1.
John’s getting
back home.
used to living with his parents again after moving
2.
It’s a difficult job, but you’ll
3.
What’s a new activity that you
get
are
used to it after a while.
getting used to?

16.

Get Used To
Complete the sentences
4.
It can take a long time to get
used
to living alone.
5.
Wherever I go on holiday, I can never get used
I always wake up early.
to
having a lie-in.

17.

Find examples of ‘used to’ in this text
Anna recently moved from Brazil to Japan for
a new job. Back in Brazil, she used to live close
to her family and friends, and she used to spend
weekends at the beach. Now, everything feels
getting used
used to
to the
the food,
food, as
different. She 's still getting
Japanese cuisine is much different from what
She used to eat back home. Eating with
chopsticks is something she hasn’t mastered
yet, but she’s slowly getting used to
to it.
it.

18.

Find examples of ‘used to’ in this text
In the mornings, Anna finds herself waking up
early for work, something she wasn’t used to in
Brazil, where her job started later in the day.
Brazil
However, after a few weeks, she‘s getting more
used to her new routine
routine and the long commute.
Even though she misses her old life, she’s
excited about the challenges ahead and hopes
get used
used to
to all
all the
the changes
changes
that soon she’ll get
that come with living in a new country.

19.

Sentence Matching
Match the sentence to the correct endings
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
I used to play football,
A.
Jessica hasn’t visited
many countries…
B.
They started a new job
last week so…
C.
I’ve never really understood
Japanese because…
D.
One day Chris will open his
own restaurant…
E.
The housing market is
struggling because …
F.
once he’s used to handling his
own finances.
I never got used to the alphabet.
they’ve been getting used to
their new responsibilities.
people aren’t getting used to
high inflation rates.
because she’s not used to
travelling alone.
but now I just go to the gym.

20.

True or False
Write five sentences about you using different ‘used to’ structures. One of
the sentences should be false.
I used to live in the UK.
I’m getting used to living with my partner.
I’m used to eating very spicy food.
Now, read your sentences. Your partner or teacher must guess which
sentence is false.

21.

Identifying Errors
Correct the mistakes in these sentences
1.
I’m used to drink coffee every morning when I wake up.
I’m used to drinking coffee every morning when I wake up.
2.
She gets used to running everyday for her marathon training.
She’s getting used to running everyday for her marathon training.
3.
We are used to live in a very big city.
We are used to living in a very big city.

22.

Identifying Errors
Correct the mistakes in these sentences
4.
He didn’t used to like spicy food, but now he loves it!
He didn’t use to like spicy food, but now he loves it!
5.
I hope they’ll used to the cold weather soon.
I hope they’ll get used to the cold weather soon.
6.
I’m taking the bus this morning! I’m not used to drive on the other side
of the road!
I’m taking the bus this morning! I’m not used to driving on the
other side of the road!

23.

Discuss these questions
1.
Are you used to waking up early in the morning?
2.
Where did you use go to school when you were a child?
3.
What is something you want to get used to?
4.
How long did it take you to get used to speaking in English during your
English class?
5.
Did you use to believe in something that you don’t believe in now?
6.
Are you more used to reading electronic books or paperback books?
Why?

24.

Questions
Create your own questions using ‘used to’ ‘be used to’ and ‘get used to’.
Use the prompts in the boxes to help you.
routine
work
hometown
English
hobbies
exercise
family
Now ask and answer with your partner or teacher.

25.

Thank You!