Used to vs Be used to at a glance
- used to
/ˈjuːst tə/ · modal-like verb
Talks about a habit or situation in the past that is no longer true.
- I used to play the guitar when I was at school.
- There used to be a cinema on this street.
- be used to
/bi ˈjuːst tə/ · phrase (be + adjective)
To be familiar with something, so it doesn't feel strange or difficult any more.
- I'm used to getting up early for work.
- She's lived in Norway for years, so she's used to the cold.
How to remember it
Look at the word after it: a plain verb means a past habit (used to live); an -ing form or noun means familiar (used to living, used to the food).
Good to know
Questions and negatives with used to drop the d: "Did you use to...?", "I didn't use to...". Get used to describes the process of becoming familiar: "It took me months to get used to the time difference." Both are pronounced with an s sound: /juːst/.
Common mistakes
Wrong: I'm used to get up at six.
Right: I'm used to getting up at six.
Wrong: I use to live in London.
Right: I used to live in London.
Wrong: I used to driving on the left now.
Right: I'm used to driving on the left now.
Quick quiz
1.We go camping every summer when I was a kid.
2.Don't worry, you'll the cold by January.
3.This building be a factory.
Pick the right word for each gap.