Learning English

Are you an early bird or a night owl?

The last activity was all about used to for something in the past that is different now. There are other uses for used to which have different meanings and different grammar.

Read about Karen and see if you can work out the meaning and form of the other uses.

"When I was younger I was a bit of a night owl. I used to stay out late three or four nights week. Then I got a job working in the city and I had to get up really early. It took me a long time to get used to the alarm going off at 6.00. Now that I am used to it, I'm more like an early bird. I really enjoy the mornings."

• I used to stay out late three or four nights week.
  used to: talking about something in the past that is different now.
• It took me a long time to get used to the alarm ...
  to get used to something: to become familiar with and accustomed to something over a period of time.
• Now that I am used to it ...
  to be used to something: to be familiar with and accustomed to something

Read the text and complete the activity

Not just the past

To be used to something and to get used to something can be used in the past and present and future.

• I was used to wearing shorts in the winter.
  I got used to wearing shorts in the winter.
  
• I'm used to cycling to work in the rain.
  I get used to cycling in poor conditions quite easily.
  
• I'll be used to this new software soon
  I'll get used to this new software if it kills me!

They are very close in meaning and in many cases you could use either one of them. However, to be used to something describes a situation that already exists and to get used to something highlights that it took some time to get to that state.

• I'm used to eating foreign food. = eating foreign food is not strange or unusual for me. 
• I got used to eating foreign food. = it took a period of time but now eating foreign food is not strange or unusual for me.

Form 

They are transitive expressions, which means they need an object. The object can be a noun, pronoun or a gerund (-ing form of a verb when it is used as a noun)

be used to something = subject + be + used to + object

get used to something = subject + get + used to + object

In questions and negatives the d in used is not dropped.

• I'm not used to working so late.
  Have you got used to your new bed yet?

The s in used is pronounced /s/.

The d in used to is not pronounced.

To do

Read this paragraph about John. Use the information here to help you rewrite this story using used to, be used to and get used to.

John lives by himself. In the past he lived with his brother. When he started living by himself he thought he would never become accustomed to it. In fact, he didn't want to become accustomed to it. He liked coming home from work and having someone to talk to and someone to cook for. He missed that but gradually he became comfortable with his situation. Now he is accustomed to talking to his cat though he still finds it difficult cooking just for himself.

Next

We're sure you're used to the way these session work so we probably don't need to tell you that coming up next is 6 Minute Grammar. Join Callum and Catherine as they discuss this topic further.