Let’s have a look at be used to and used to. These two words look similar, but they have two very different uses. Do you know how to use these words? Have a look at the paragraph above once more, and then check today’s lesson.Used to
- I used to work in the music business. I don’t work in the music business anymore.
- Brad used to live in Florida. He doesn’t live there now.
- Jack used to smoke, but he quit. Jack doesn’t have the habit of smoking anymore.
- I used to listen to heavy metal records. I don’t listen to listen to them anymore (^o^).
Remember that used to is used to talk about past situations and circumstances which have changed. “I used to smoke” is a past situation which no longer exists. Used to indicates that a change in a situation and so we don’t use used to when we talk about what happened in the past. Compare the following:
- Jack worked for Apple for five years. This talks about a situation in the past only.
- Jack used to work for Apple. This talks about a situation in the past which no longer exists.
Be used to
We use be used to when we want to talk about situations that are familiar and/or no longer new or difficult. The structure is be used to + Ving or be used to + something
- I am used to using the subway in New York. At first it was difficult, but now I am familiar with the subway.
- Jack is used to living a smoke free life.
- Jane is from the countryside and she is not used to the noise of Manhattan.
- I am finally used to using a touchscreen phone.
You can also get used to something, which means that it becomes familiar over time:
- Joe got used to driving in London pretty quickly.
- Jack got used to not smoking by exercising at the gym.
- Anne said that she hopes she can get used to her new boss.
Let’s look at both words together:
- I used to drink black coffee. I drank black coffee in the past, but not anymore.
- I am used to drinking black coffee. Drinking black coffee is familiar to me now.