Look at these examples to see how used to, get used to and be used to are used.
I used to want to be a lawyer but then I realised how hard they work!
How's Boston? Are you used to the cold weather yet?
No matter how many times I fly, I'll never get used to take-off and landing!
Try this exercise to test your grammar.
Read the explanation to learn more.
Grammar explanation
Used to + infinitive and be/get used to + -ing look similar but they have very different uses.
used to
We use used to + infinitive to talk about a past situation that is no longer true. It tells us that there was a repeated action or state in the past which has now changed.
She used to be a long-distance runner when she was younger.
I didn't use to sleep very well, but then I started doing yoga and it really helps.
Did you use to come here as a child?
be used to and get used to
Be used to means 'be familiar with' or 'be accustomed to'.
She's used to the city now and doesn't get lost any more.
He wasn't used to walking so much and his legs hurt after the hike.
I'm a teacher so I'm used to speaking in public.
We use get used to to talk about the process of becoming familiar with something.
I'm finding this new job hard but I'm sure I'll get used to it soon.
It took my mother years to get used to living in London after moving from Pakistan.
I'm getting used to the noise now. I found it really stressful when I first moved in.
Be used to and get used to are followed by a noun, pronoun or the -ing form of a verb, and can be used about the past, present or future.
Do this exercise to test your grammar again.
Hello,
Could you check this sentence for me?
I used to play badminton every week , but now I only play it twice a week as I’m quite busy with my assignments.
Hello Khangvo2812,
Perfect!
Best wishes,
Kirk
LearnEnglish team
Hello,
I would ask you more about the difference between "Get used to"
and "Be used to". For instance, if I write:
"As a learner, I am getting used to practising English to improve my skills". In this case, my focus is on the process of becoming familiar with English.
While the sentence:
"As a learner, I am used to practising English to improve my skills" describes the final step of the process and overcoming the difficulties.
Is that right?
Although there is no end of learning, this is an ongoing process.
Thanks for help.
Hi User_1,
Yes, that's exactly it! "I am getting used to ..." shows that the process of becoming familiar with English is not yet complete and it is still ongoing, while "I am used to ..." shows that I am already familiar and the process is complete.
Jonathan
LearnEnglish team
Hi Jonathan,
Thank you for clarifying that.
Even if the process of learning a second language is an ongoing process, so in the reality the correct sentence is:
"As a learner, I am getting used to practising English to improve my skills".
Please, could you tell me if I write clearly when I ask questions?
Thanks a lot!
Hello User_1,
I hope you don't mind me stepping in to the conversation.
To answer your second question first, yes, your questions are quite clear and you are a good writer. Keep practising and you'll get even better, I'm sure.
Regarding your first question:
I think you could still say this. To me, it means that you have developed the habit of practising English. You may still practise English for the rest of your life -- in this sense, the process and learning are continuing -- but what you don't have to develop any further is the habit of improving your English through practice.
When you say 'As a learner, I am getting used to practising English to improve my skills', it suggests to me that you are still developing the habit of practising.
So I'd say both of these statements can be true.
I hope I haven't made the issue more confusing for you! If so, please don't hesitate to ask.
All the best,
Kirk
LearnEnglish team
Hello Kirk,
I am glad of your stepping in to the conversation.
Getting feedback from you, as teachers, is really helpful for my learning.
Thanks for your reply.
I got the meaning of your explanation, so I can say:
"As a learner, I am used to practising English to improve my skills"
since I have developed the habit of practising English every day.
I value your feedback and support.
Thanks a lot!
getting used to is more like a process
Dear teachers,
can you please explain me why in this sentences "Our house is on a steep hill, but I _got used to____ the walk after a month of living here". the answer got used to not get used to
Hello rokaia mohamed,
The phrase 'after a month of living there' makes it clear that the process of getting used to the walk occurred in the past. This is why the correct answer 'got used to' is in the past simple rather than in the present simple ('get used to').
Does that make sense?
All the best,
Kirk
LearnEnglish team