Grammar: "be used to" vs. "get used to"
B1 Lesson 8: Talking About Familiarity
Familiarity: A State vs. a Process
In our last lesson, we learned about "used to + infinitive" for past habits. Today, we look at two similar-sounding phrases with completely different meanings and structures: "be used to" and "get used to." These phrases are not about the past; they are about familiarity.
The most important rule is that "be used to" and "get used to" are followed by a noun or a gerund (verb-ing form).
Use this to say you are accustomed to a situation. It feels normal now.
Example: "He lives in Cambodia, so he is used to the hot weather."
Use this to talk about the process of adapting to a new situation.
Example: "It took time, but I finally got used to living in the city."
The Grammar Rule 📖
The Big Contrast: Three Structures
1. used to + infinitive (Past Habit)
"I used to live in Phnom Penh." (I don't live there anymore.)
2. be used to + -ing/noun (Familiar State)
"I live in Battambang now. I am used to living here." (Living here is normal for me now.)
3. get used to + -ing/noun (Process of Adapting)
"When I first moved here, it took time to get used to the slower pace of life." (This was the process of adaptation.)
Practice Your Grammar 🎯
Exercise: Choose the Correct Form
Choose the best option to complete each sentence.
- When I was a child, I _______ play outside all day, but now I work in an office.
→ used to (This describes a past habit that is no longer true.) - I have lived in Cambodia for five years, so I _______ the hot weather now.
→ am used to (This describes a current state of familiarity.) - She just started a new job where she must wake up at 5 AM. It's difficult, but she is slowly _______ it.
→ getting used to (This describes a process of adaptation happening now.) - It took me a while, but I finally _______ driving my moto in the busy city traffic.
→ got used to (This describes a completed process of adaptation in the past.)
Your Grammar Mission ⭐
Your Life Changes
Write true sentences about your own life using the target grammar.
- Write about something new in your life that you are adapting to now. Use "get used to".
(Example: I am getting used to my new schedule at work.) - Write about something that is normal for you now. Use "be used to".
(Example: I am used to eating rice every day.) - Write about a past habit you don't have anymore. Use "used to".
(Example: I used to watch cartoons when I was a child.)
Key Vocabulary
- Familiarity A good knowledge of something, making you feel comfortable.
- Gerund A verb form which functions as a noun, ending in "-ing" (e.g., "I like swimming.")
- Accustomed to To be familiar with something and accept it as normal.
- Process A series of actions that you take in order to achieve a result.
- Adaptation The process of changing to suit a new situation.