How to Use the Phrase "Used to" in English

"Used to" is a common phrase in English that signifies becoming accustomed to something over time. These words typically refer to habits or actions that were common in the past but are no longer current. It's easy to confuse "used to" with "use to" due to their similarity, yet their usage contexts differ significantly. The most effective way to grasp this is through practical examples. Let's delve into some examples that clarify how "used to" is used in English grammar.

"Used to" for Habits

We use "used to" followed by the base form of the verb (infinitive) to talk about actions or states that happened regularly in the past but don't happen anymore. Here's the breakdown:

• When to use it:
  • When you're talking about something you did habitually in the past but don't do anymore.
  • This can be anything from hobbies and routines to skills and preferences.
• How to use it:
  • The structure is always "used to + infinitive verb".
  • Examples:
    • "I used to play the piano every day after school. (but I don't anymore)"
    • "She used to hate vegetables, but now she loves them." (her preference has changed)
    • "We used to live in a small town. (but we moved)" (our situation has changed)

Here are some additional points to remember:

• "Used to" emphasizes that the habit is no longer true in the present.
• You can use "used to" with both action verbs (play, eat) and state verbs (live, hate).
• We can sometimes use "would" with a similar meaning, especially when talking about frequency (e.g., "I would go swimming twice a week").

"Used to" For Getting Accustomed to Something

Both "get used to" and "be used to" describe being accustomed to something, but they differ slightly in meaning and usage:

Get Used To:

• Function: Describes the process of becoming familiar or comfortable with something new or different.
• Tense: Can be used in all tenses (present, past, and future) to show the ongoing process of adaptation.
  • Present: "I'm getting used to my new job."
  • Past: "It took me a while to get used to living in a big city."
  • Future: "They'll get used to the new teacher soon."
• Structure: "get" (conjugated) + "used to" + noun/gerund (-ing verb)
  • Example: "She's getting used to the spicy food here." (noun)
  • Example: "He's getting used to waking up early." (gerund)

Am/Is/Are Used To:

• Function: Describes the state of already being familiar or comfortable with something.
• Tense: Primarily used in the present perfect tense or present simple tense to show a current state of adaptation.
  • Present Perfect: "I'm used to working long hours." (emphasizes the process of becoming accustomed)
  • Present Simple: "She is used to traveling by train." (current state of comfort)
• Structure: "be" (conjugated) + "used to" + noun/gerund (-ing verb)
  • Example: "We are used to the noise from the traffic." (noun)
  • Example: "They are used to going to bed late on weekends." (gerund)

Here's a table summarizing the key differences:

Feature	Get Used To	Am/Is/Are Used To
Function	Process of adaptation	State of adaptation
Tense	Present, Past, Future	Present Perfect, Present Simple
Structure	get (conj.) + used to + noun/gerund	be (conj.) + used to + noun/gerund
Example	Getting used to a new job	Used to working long hours

Remember:

• "Used to" alone (without "get" or "be") refers to past habits that no longer exist.
• You cannot use "get used to" or "be used to" in the future perfect tense.

Avoid These Mistakes

Here are some common mistakes people make when using "used to":

• Verb tense:

  • Incorrect: "I used to played basketball every day." (This should be "used to play" as "used to" always uses the base form of the verb.)
  • Incorrect: "I didn't used to go to the movies." (We need "did" in the negative form: "I didn't use to go to the movies.")

• Mixing up "used to" with "be used to" or "get used to":

  • Incorrect: "This place used to be very crowded, but now I'm used to it." (These describe different situations. "Used to" is for the past, while "be used to" is for the present state of being accustomed.)

• Using "used to" with a specific time frame:

  • Incorrect: "I used to go to the park last year." ("Used to" refers to a general habit in the past, not a specific time.)

• Using "used to" with the present or future tense:

  • Incorrect: "She uses to love chocolate, but now she hates it." ("Used to" can only be used for past habits.)

• Forgetting "did" in questions:

  • Incorrect: "Used to you live in France?" (Correct: "Did you used to live in France?")

By avoiding these mistakes, you can use "used to" confidently to talk about past habits and situations in English.