The Difference: Used to, Be Used to, Get Used to
2020-01-17
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1Hi everyone, how was your weekend? Mine was relaxing! Let me tell you about it.
2Listen for me to say the words "used to" three times.
3On Saturday, I got up early to go to my 7 o'clock yoga class.
4Most of my friends like to sleep late on weekends.
5But I've been going to this class for a year now. So I am used to waking at sunrise.
6A few weeks ago, I finally persuaded my friend Tania to come.
7She is not a morning person.
8But after a month of our new routine, she is getting used to the early hours.
9After class, we like to get breakfast at a café down the street.
10Every week, she orders the same thing: banana pancakes.
11I used to eat pancakes.
12But now I enjoy something lighter, like yogurt and fruit.
13I hope you heard me say "used to" three times as I told my story.
14But each phrase looks and sounds a little different.
15These were the phrases from the story:
16be used to
17get used to
18used to
19The phrase "used to" is unrelated to the other two phrases.
20But "be used to" and "get used to" have similar meanings and sentence structures.
21Some English learners have trouble distinguishing between the three.
22Others can tell them apart but have trouble forming sentences with them.
23So, on today's Everyday Grammar program, I will show you how to recognize and use each.
24Let's start with the last phrase, "used to."
25"Used to" is considered a modal verb, though an unusual one, since it is only found in the past tense.
26Choose "used to" to say that something existed or happened repeatedly in the past but does not exist or happen now.
27For example, I said, "I used to eat pancakes."
28That means I ate them repeatedly in the past but do not anymore.
29The sentence structure for "used to" will always go like this:
30subject + used to + base verb
31The base form of a verb is its shortest form, with no -s ending.
32Look for that structure in these examples, including my own:
33I used to eat pancakes. But now I enjoy something lighter, like yogurt and fruit.
34Sacha used to live on Atlantic Avenue near Vanderbilt Street.
35He didn't use to believe in ghosts.
36But he said he saw one at his grandmother's house.
37As you just heard, the negative of "used to" is "did not use to" or the more common "didn't use to."
38Notice the word "use" does not end with the letter -d in the negative.
39That is because "did" is already the past tense.
40Next, let's talk about "be used to."
41Choose "be used to" to say you are accustomed to something, and so it seems normal or usual.
42If you are used to something, it is not difficult, new or strange.
43In "be used to," the verb "be" can take the present, past or future tense (though future is less common).
44And the words "used to" are an adjective, not a modal verb.
45Earlier you heard the present tense "am" in my sentence "I am used to waking at sunrise."
46That means I am accustomed to it.
47The sentence structure goes like this:
48subject + be + used to + gerund, noun or pronoun
49In other words, the phrase "be used to" will be followed by some kind of noun - whether gerund or otherwise.
50You may remember that a gerund is a kind of noun that ends in i-n-g.
51Listen to a few examples, including my own. Pay attention to the verb tense of "be." And, note that nouns follow "be used to."
52But I've been going to this class for a year now. So I am used to waking at sunrise.
53She doesn't think Dami is strange. She is used to him.
54Look, the bird is frightened. It is not used to large crowds.
55Notice that the negative for "be used to" is "be not used to."
56And, finally, we have "get used to."
57Remember -- this phrase is related in meaning to "be used to."
58The difference is that "get used to" means someone is, was or will become accustomed to something.
59So, the verb "get" in the phrase can take the present, past or future tense.
60For example, I said this about Tania: "She is getting used to the early hours."
61That means she is becoming accustomed to being awake in the early morning.
62The words "used to" in the phrase "get used to" are also an adjective.
63The sentence structure goes like this:
64subject + get + used to + gerund, noun or pronoun
65Listen for the verb tense of "get" in the following examples. And take note that nouns follow "get used to."
66But after a month of our new routine, she is getting used to the early hours.
67I hated this haircut at first. But I got used to it. I like it now!
68The baby will not get used to the new sitter. I think she misses her dad.
69Note the negative of "get used to," which is "not get used to."
70And that's it for today. I hope you have a relaxing weekend ahead, too.
71I'm Alice Bryant.
1Hi everyone, how was your weekend? Mine was relaxing! Let me tell you about it. Listen for me to say the words "used to" three times. 2On Saturday, I got up early to go to my 7 o'clock yoga class. Most of my friends like to sleep late on weekends. But I've been going to this class for a year now. So I am used to waking at sunrise. 3A few weeks ago, I finally persuaded my friend Tania to come. She is not a morning person. But after a month of our new routine, she is getting used to the early hours. 4After class, we like to get breakfast at a café down the street. Every week, she orders the same thing: banana pancakes. I used to eat pancakes. But now I enjoy something lighter, like yogurt and fruit. 5I hope you heard me say "used to" three times as I told my story. But each phrase looks and sounds a little different. These were the phrases from the story: 6be used to 7get used to 8used to 9The phrase "used to" is unrelated to the other two phrases. But "be used to" and "get used to" have similar meanings and sentence structures. 10Some English learners have trouble distinguishing between the three. Others can tell them apart but have trouble forming sentences with them. So, on today's Everyday Grammar program, I will show you how to recognize and use each. 11Used to 12Let's start with the last phrase, "used to." 13"Used to" is considered a modal verb, though an unusual one, since it is only found in the past tense. 14Choose "used to" to say that something existed or happened repeatedly in the past but does not exist or happen now. 15For example, I said, "I used to eat pancakes." That means I ate them repeatedly in the past but do not anymore. 16The sentence structure for "used to" will always go like this: 17subject + used to + base verb 18The base form of a verb is its shortest form, with no -s ending. 19Look for that structure in these examples, including my own: 20I used to eat pancakes. But now I enjoy something lighter, like yogurt and fruit. 21Sacha used to live on Atlantic Avenue near Vanderbilt Street. 22He didn't use to believe in ghosts. But he said he saw one at his grandmother's house. 23As you just heard, the negative of "used to" is "did not use to" or the more common "didn't use to." Notice the word "use" does not end with the letter -d in the negative. That is because "did" is already the past tense. 24Be used to 25Next, let's talk about "be used to." 26Choose "be used to" to say you are accustomed to something, and so it seems normal or usual. If you are used to something, it is not difficult, new or strange. 27In "be used to," the verb "be" can take the present, past or future tense (though future is less common). And the words "used to" are an adjective, not a modal verb. 28Earlier you heard the present tense "am" in my sentence "I am used to waking at sunrise." That means I am accustomed to it. 29The sentence structure goes like this: 30subject + be + used to + gerund, noun or pronoun 31In other words, the phrase "be used to" will be followed by some kind of noun - whether gerund or otherwise. 32You may remember that a gerund is a kind of noun that ends in i-n-g. 33Listen to a few examples, including my own. Pay attention to the verb tense of "be." And, note that nouns follow "be used to." 34But I've been going to this class for a year now. So I am used to waking at sunrise. 35She doesn't think Dami is strange. She is used to him. 36Look, the bird is frightened. It is not used to large crowds. 37Notice that the negative for "be used to" is "be not used to." 38Get used to 39And, finally, we have "get used to." 40Remember -- this phrase is related in meaning to "be used to." The difference is that "get used to" means someone is, was or will become accustomed to something. So, the verb "get" in the phrase can take the present, past or future tense. 41For example, I said this about Tania: "She is getting used to the early hours." That means she is becoming accustomed to being awake in the early morning. 42The words "used to" in the phrase "get used to" are also an adjective. 43The sentence structure goes like this: 44subject + get + used to + gerund, noun or pronoun 45Listen for the verb tense of "get" in the following examples. And take note that nouns follow "get used to." 46But after a month of our new routine, she is getting used to the early hours. 47I hated this haircut at first. But I got used to it. I like it now! 48The baby will not get used to the new sitter. I think she misses her dad. 49Note the negative of "get used to," which is "not get used to." 50And that's it for today. I hope you have a relaxing weekend ahead, too. 51I'm Alice Bryant. 52Alice Bryant wrote this story for Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. 53______________________________________________________________ 54Words in This Story 55yoga - n. a system of exercises for mental and physical health 56pancake - n. a thin, flat, round cake that is made by cooking batter on both sides in a frying pan or on a hot surface 57distinguish - v. to notice or recognize a difference between people or things 58modal verb - n. a verb (such as can, should, will, and would) that is usually used with another verb to express ideas 59ghost - n. the soul of a dead person thought of as living in an unseen world or as appearing to living people 60accustomed - adj. : familiar with something so that it seems normal or usual 61sitter - n. a person who takes care of a child while the child's parents are away