Be used to, get used to

B1 · Intermediate
Grammar lesson
60 min

be used to and get used to + a noun or -ing for what is normal and what is becoming normal: I was used to quiet nights, but I'm getting used to the noise of the city. From a farm in Iowa to Manhattan, and from there to advice for a newcomer to your own town.

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I'm used toget used togetting used to

What's in the lesson

1Warm-up
2In this lesson
3Listen: Cora's first yearListening comprehension
4What does it mean?Grammar exercise
5Find be used to and get used toGrammar exercise
6be used to, get used toGrammar rule
7Which one?Grammar exercise
8The bakery shiftGrammar exercise
9Find the mistakeGrammar exercise
10Questions for your teacherGrammar exercise
11Say it naturallySpeaking practice
12Welcome to my townSpeaking practice
13About youGrammar exercise
14Wrap-up

Homework

1Homework: from Brazil to MinnesotaGrammar exercise
2Homework: which is correct?Grammar exercise
3Homework: build the sentencesGrammar exercise
4Homework: something newDiscussion

Two slides from the lesson

Warm-up

A few questions about you before we start.

Have you ever lived in a place that was very different from your hometown?
Have you ever spent time on a farm?
Is there anything in your daily life that felt strange at first but feels normal now?

Grammar rule

be used to, get used to

be used to, get used to + a noun or -ing

	It means	Example
be used to + a noun, a pronoun or -ing	it is normal for you; it is not new or strange	I'm used to cold winters. My brother isn't used to sharing a room.
get used to + a noun, a pronoun or -ing	it becomes normal, little by little	You'll get used to the new keyboard. We got used to the heat after a week. I'm getting used to my new bike.
used to + base verb (no be, no get)	a past habit or state that is not true now	I used to take the bus. (Now I drive.)

In be used to and get used to, to is a preposition, so -ing comes after it: I'm used to sleeping with the window open. (not used to sleep)
be and get change for the time: I was used to…, I wasn't used to…, I'll get used to…, I've gotten used to… (gotten in American English).
Questions: Are you used to…? Did you get used to…?
All three sound the same: "YOOS-tuh", with no d sound. Look for be or get to know the meaning.

Watch out

not I'm used to drive → I'm used to driving.
not I used to driving: with -ing, you need be or get (I'm used to driving = it's normal for me; I used to drive = in the past).
not I'm use to it → I'm used to it.

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