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Unit 61 · -ing and to …

be/get used to … (I'm used to …)

Study

A

Lisa is American, but she lives in Britain. When she first drove a car in Britain, driving on the left was a problem for her because:

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She wasn't used to it.

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She wasn't used to driving on the left. (because Americans drive on the right)

But after some time, driving on the left became easier.

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She got used to driving on the left.

Now it's no problem for Lisa:

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She is used to driving on the left.

B

I'm used to something = it is not new or strange for me

You can say:

be used to something
get or
doing something
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Paul lives alone. He has lived alone for a long time, so it is not strange for him. He's used to it.

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He is used to living alone.

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I bought some new shoes. They felt a little strange at first because I wasn't used to them.

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Our new apartment is on a busy street. I expect we'll get used to the noise, but at the moment it's very disturbing.

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Helen has a new job. She has to get up much earlier now than before – at 6.30. She finds this difficult because she isn't used to getting up so early.

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Katherine's husband is often away from home. She doesn't mind this. She's used to him being away.

C

We say 'be/get used to doing something' (not I'm used to do).

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Lisa is used to driving on the left. (not is used to drive)

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I'm used to living alone. (not I'm used to live)

When we say 'I am used to …', to is a preposition:

We're not used to the noise.
it.
living here. (not live here)

Compare to + infinitive (to do, to live etc.):

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We don't want to live here.

D

Compare I am used to doing and I used to do:

I am used to (doing) something = it isn't strange or new for me:

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I'm used to the weather here.

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I'm used to driving on the left because I've lived in Britain a long time.

I used to do something = I did it regularly in the past but no longer do it. We use this only for the past (I used …), not for the present. See Unit 18.

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I used to drive to work every day, but these days I usually go by bike.

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We used to live just outside the town, but now we live near the centre.

→ used to (do) ➜ Unit 18 · to + -ing ➜ Unit 60C

Exercises (5)

0/5 exercises checked
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61.1

Complete the sentences using used to + a suitable verb.

  1. 1
    I’m not lonely. I don’t need other people. I’m on my own.example
  2. 2
    I don’t feel good. I stayed up until 3 am. I’m not to bed so late.
  3. 3
    Tomorrow I start a new job. I’ll have to get with new people.
  4. 4
    My feet hurt. I can’t go any further. I’m not so far.
  5. 5
    I like this part of town. I’ve been here a long time, so I’m here.
61.2

Read about Sarah and Jack. Complete the sentences using used to.

  1. 1
    Sarah is a nurse. A year ago she started working nights. At first it was hard for her.
    Sarah nights. It took her a few months to it. Now, after a year, it’s normal for her. She nights.example
  2. 2
    Jack has to drive two hours to work every morning. Many years ago, when he first had to do this, it was hard for him and he didn’t like it.
    When Jack started working in this job, he driving two hours to work every morning, but after some time he it. Now it’s no problem for him. He two hours every morning.
61.3

What do you say in these situations? Use I’m (not) used to … .

  1. 1
    You live alone. You don’t mind this. You have always lived alone. friend: Do you get lonely sometimes?
    you: No, .example
  2. 2
    You sleep on the floor. It’s OK for you. You have always slept on the floor. friend: Wouldn’t you prefer to sleep in a bed?
    you: No, I .
  3. 3
    You have to work long hours in your job. This is not a problem. You have always done this. friend: You have to work long hours in your job, don’t you?
    you: Yes, but I don’t mind that. I .
  4. 4
    You’ve just moved from a village to a big city. It’s busy and you don’t like the crowds of people. friend: How do you like living here now?
    you: It’s different from living in a village. I .
61.4

Read the situations and complete the sentences using get/got used to.

  1. 1
    Some friends of yours have just moved into an apartment on a busy street. It is very noisy.
    They’ll have to .example
  2. 2
    The children got a new teacher. She was different from the teacher before her, but this wasn’t a problem for the children. They soon
    They soon .
  3. 3
    Kate moved from a big house to a much smaller one. She found it strange at first. She had to
    She had to in a much smaller house.
  4. 4
    Anna has lived in Britain for ten years. She didn’t like the weather when she first came, and she still doesn’t like it. She can’t
    She can’t .
  5. 5
    Lee got a new job, but his new salary was much less. So he had less money.
    He had to .
61.5

Complete the sentences using only one word each time.

  1. 1
    Lisa had to get used to on the left.example
  2. 2
    Daniel used to a lot of coffee. Now he prefers tea.
  3. 3
    I feel very full after that meal. I’m not used to so much.
  4. 4
    I wouldn’t like to share a room. I’m used to my own room.
  5. 5
    I used to a car, but I sold it a few months ago.
  6. 6
    When we were children, we used to swimming very often.
  7. 7
    There used to a school here, but it was knocked down a few years ago.
  8. 8
    I’m the boss here! I’m not used to told what to do.