Ch 9

Be / Get / Become Used To

Distinguishing used to do vs be used to doing.

Habits, familiarity and adjustment

B2 · FCE Cambridge

Three structures — the difference

be used to

Permanent — already accustomed
I'm used to spicy food.

get used to

Changing — becoming accustomed (informal)
I'm getting used to the cold.

become used to

Changing — formal alternative to 'get'
She became used to living alone.

All three are followed by a noun or -ing form — NOT a bare infinitive.

Watch out: 'I am used to wake up early' is wrong — after 'be used to', use -ing or a noun.

Used to vs Be used to

A critical distinction

used to + bare infinitive → past habit (no longer true)

be used to + noun or -ing → familiarity (now or in the past)

used to = past habit

I used to drive to work.

I no longer do this.

be used to = familiar with

I'm used to driving to work.

I'm familiar with it.

Watch out: 'I am used to wake up early' is wrong. After 'be used to' → -ing.

Common mistakes — FCE Traps

I used to eat spicy food (still do)

→

I am used to eating spicy food

'Used to' = past habit, no longer true

I'm used to wake up early

→

I'm used to waking up early

After 'be used to' → -ing

She is use to living alone

→

She is used to living alone

It's 'used to', not 'use to'

He got used to be cold

→

He got used to the cold / to being cold

After 'get used to' → noun or -ing

Are you used to work night shifts?

→

Are you used to working night shifts?

Question form needs -ing

Summary

used to

+ bare infinitive

I used to smoke. (past habit, no longer)

be used to

+ noun or -ing (permanent)

I'm used to the noise.

get used to

+ noun or -ing (changing, informal)

I'm getting used to it.

become used to

+ noun or -ing (formal)

She became used to living alone.

Any tense

be/get/become change tense freely

was used to · will get used to