To be used to: How and When to Use in English
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To be used to
The expression to be used to expresses habit. It is followed by a subject or a verb in the gerund:
| To be used to something | to be accustomed to something |
| To be used to doing something | to be accustomed to doing something |
I am used to this kind of thing. I am accustomed to this kind of thing.
I am used to doing such things. I am accustomed to doing such things.
They were used to standing for hours. They were accustomed to standing for hours.
Note:
• Be careful not to confuse it with I used to (do something), which expresses a completed action in the past:
• Be careful not to confuse it with I used to (do something), which expresses a completed action in the past:
I used to play tennis when I was a child. I played tennis when I was a child (I no longer play tennis).
• Also be careful not to confuse it with the ordinary verb to use, conjugated in the past simple or past participle.
These drugs are used to treat a serious disease. These drugs are utilized to treat a serious disease.
• To be used to and to be accustomed to have a similar meaning, although to be accustomed to is sometimes followed by an infinitive:
Jungle animals are not accustomed to live (or to living) with human beings. Jungle animals are not in the habit of living with human beings.
• The expression to get used to, followed by a subject or a verb in the gerund (ing), expresses the act of getting accustomed to something:
I can't get used to this work environment. I am finding it difficult to work in this new work environment.
Get used to it! Accept this new situation!
Exercise 1
Ivana Bümbüm is used to attention from fans and photographers.
Ivana Bümbüm is used to receiving attention from fans and photographers.
receiving: The construction 'to be used to doing something' expresses the idea of being accustomed or habituated to something. The expression 'to be used to' is always followed by a verb in the progressive (ING) form, and so we must use 'receiving' here.
receive: The expression 'to be used to' is always followed by a verb in the progressive (ING) form, and so we must use 'receiving' here.
a lot: 'A lot' must be followed by 'of' for this construction to be grammatically correct.
received: The expression 'to be used to' cannot be followed by a verb in the past tense. Using 'received' here makes this sentence grammatically incorrect.
Exercise 2
Years ago, Kevin Connors go drinking every evening at a pub. These days, he going home directly after work and having a shot of tequila.
Years ago, Kevin Connors used to 1 go drinking every evening at a pub. These days, he is used to 2 going home directly after work and having a shot of tequila.
1 used to: When followed by an infinitive verb, 'used to' expresses an idea of habit or repetition in the past. We can differentiate 'used to (do something)' from 'to be used to (doing something)' by the verb which follows each expression. When followed by a verb in its infinitive form (without 'to'), 'used to' indicates a regular or habitual action in the past. When followed by a verb in the progressive (ING) form 'used to' indicates the idea of being accustomed to something. Also someone 'used to' do something, but they 'ARE used to doing something'.
1 is used to: When followed by a verb in its infinitive form (without 'to'), 'used to' indicates a regular or habitual action in the past. Because the verb which follows 'used to' here is in its infinitive form, we know that 'used to' is required. The phrase 'years ago' also gives us a clue. The 'be used to' construction is always followed directly by an '-ING' verb.
1 use to: The expression 'used to' is always expressed in the past tense form, so it requires a 'd' at the end of the word.
2 is used to: When followed directly by a verb in the progressive (ING) form, 'to be used to' indicates the idea of being accustomed to something. We can recognize that a verb in its progressive form is needed here because of the verb 'going'. Note that the 'to be used to' construction uses a form of the verb 'to be', which 'used to' doesn't.
2 was used to: Because of the phrase 'these days', we know that the verb must be put into the present tense.
2 used to: 'Used to' expresses an idea of habit or repetition in the past only when followed by an infinitive verb. It does not make sense to use it here.
Exercise 3
Bruno Delavigne is used to difficult decisions. For example, just last week, Bruno had to fire a long-time employee because he was the break room as a toilet. Bruno worry about these difficult decisions, but now he the responsibilities of being the president of a multi-national cosmetics company.
Bruno Delavigne is used to making 1 difficult decisions. For example, just last week, Bruno had to fire a long-time employee because he was using 2 the break room as a toilet. Bruno used to 3 worry about these difficult decisions, but now he is used to 4 the responsibilities of being the president of a multi-national cosmetics company.
1 making: The construction 'to be used to doing something' expresses the idea of being accustomed or habituated to something (usually an action). If 'to be used to' is followed by a verb, it is ALWAYS followed by a verb in its progressive form. We can recognize that a verb in its progressive form is needed here because we read that 'Bruno IS used to...'. The 'to be used to' construction uses a form of the verb 'to be', which 'used to' doesn't.
1 make: In these type of constructions, the '-ING' form of the verb always follows 'used to'. Remember that the 'to be used to' construction is different than the 'used to' construction, and we can differentiate them by the presence of a form of the verb 'to be'.
2 using: We must put the verb 'to use' in the 'ING' form here to create the past continuous tense. We use this tense here to indicate that the employee was regularly 'using' the break room (in the past) as a toilet, and this was the reason that he was fired.
2 used to: 'Used to' expresses an idea of habit or repetition in the past only when followed by an infinitive verb. It does not make sense to use it here.
3 used to: When followed by an infinitive verb, 'used to' expresses an idea of habit or repetition in the past. Remember that the 'be used to' construction is different than the 'used to' construction, and we can differentiate them by the presence of a form of the verb 'to be'.
3 is used to: When the 'be used to' construction is followed by a verb, it is always a verb in the 'ING' verb.
3 was used to: When the 'be used to' construction is followed by a verb, it is always a verb in the 'ING' verb.
3 use to: The expression 'used to' is always expressed in the past tense form, so it requires a 'd' at the end of the word.
4 is used to: The construction 'to be used to something' expresses the idea of being accustomed or habituated to something. In this case, the construction is followed by the noun 'the responsibilities'. Another example: 'Kylie is used to her new job now'.
4 used to: 'Used to' expresses an idea of habit or repetition in the past when followed by an infinitive verb. It does not make sense to use it here.
4 uses: The verb 'to use' doesn't make any sense here.
4 is use to: The expression 'be used to' always uses the past participle 'used', so it requires a 'd' at the end of the word 'use'.
Exercise 4
These days, Icarus Quincy a software program to calculate Delavigne's budget. He use a calculator years ago, but he doesn't anymore, because the equations he performs are too advanced for a simple calculator. By now, Icarus his new program, and prefers it to his old method of calculation.
These days, Icarus Quincy uses 1 a software program to calculate Delavigne's budget. He used to 2 use a calculator years ago, but he doesn't anymore, because the equations he performs are too advanced for a simple calculator. By now, Icarus is used to 3 his new program, and prefers it to his old method of calculation.
1 uses: 'Uses' is the third person form of the verb 'to use' in the present tense. It is the best choice in this case as the phrase 'these days' indicates an action in the present tense. NOTE: we can use either the simple present tense OR the present progressive tense in this construction: These days Icarus IS USING a new software program...'
1 use: 'Use' in the third person form of the present tense requires an 's' at the end of the word.
1 used: Because the phrase 'these days' refers to a present tense time period, we must use a verb in the present tense to agree with the time frame of the action.
1 used to: When followed by an infinitive verb, 'used to' expresses an idea of habit or repetition in the past. It does not make sense to use it here.
2 used to: When followed by an infinitive verb, 'used to' expresses an idea of habit or repetition in the past. We can differentiate 'used to (do something)' from 'to be used to (doing something)' by the verb which follows each expression. When followed by a verb in its infinitive form (without 'to'), 'used to' indicates a regular or habitual action in the past. When followed by a verb in the progressive (ING) form 'used to' indicates the idea of being accustomed to something. Also someone 'used to' do something, but they 'ARE used to doing something'.
2 is used to: 'To be used to something' expresses an idea of being accustomed to something. It does not make sense to use it here.
2 use to: The expression 'used to' is always expressed in the past tense form, so it requires a 'd' at the end of the word.
3 is used to: 'To be used to something' expresses the idea of being accustomed to something. The verb 'used' is always put in the past tense form, however the verb 'to be' is conjugated according to the context and tense of the sentence.
3 was used to: Because of the phrase 'by now' we know that the verb 'to be' must be put in the present tense form. Note: the verb 'used' is always put in the past tense in the expression 'to be used to (doing) something'.
3 is using to: In the expression 'to be used to', the verb 'used' is always written in the past tense form. We should not add '-ing' to the verb in this case. The only part of the expression which depends on the context of the sentence is 'to be', which in this particular expression is put in the simple present tense.
Exercise 5
Bob Carter eat rice cakes and ride his bicycle to work, but now he eats doughnuts and takes his car instead. Sadly, he his new regimen already. He will have a heart attack in sixteen years.
Bob Carter used to 1 eat rice cakes and ride his bicycle to work, but now he eats doughnuts and takes his car instead. Sadly, he is used to 2 his new regimen already. He will have a heart attack in sixteen years.
1 used to: 'Used to' is the correct choice. 'Used to' as a verbal construction is followed by the infinitive (without 'to'), and it indicates what someone did in the past, but does not do any longer. In the past, Bob ate rice cakes and rode his bicycle, but now he eats doughnuts and takes his car.
1 is used to: 'To be used to' something indicates habit. It often has a negative connotation. People are often 'used to' something undesirable. It is incorrect here, because it must followed by a verb in the -ING form, or a noun.
1 used: 'Used' is the preterit form of the verb 'to use', which does not make sense here.
1 uses: 'Uses' is the present simple form of the verb 'to use', which does not make sense here.
2 is used to: This is the best choice here. 'To be used to' something indicates habit. When we say that Bob is used to his new regimen, we mean that it has become a habit or that we are accustomed to something. If a verb follows 'to be used to' then we have to put it in the gerund ('ing') form, for example: I am used to performing on stage, since I have been acting since I was two years old.
2 used to: 'Used to' does not make sense here. 'Used to' as a verbal construction must be followed by another verb in the infinitive, and it indicates what someone did in the past, but does not do any longer.
2 uses: 'Uses' is the present simple form of the verb 'to use', which does not make sense here.
2 used: 'Used' is the preterit form of the verb 'to use', which does not make sense here.
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