It is tricky to get it right, but you can get it right.
Tricky to distinguish between actions you complete on a regular basis (usually) and frequent actions from the past that no longer happen (used to) and then things which describe the acquiring and acquisition of new skills (get used to / be used to).
This is all described in my blogpost: https://www.justintimeforjustin.com/post/why-used-to-doesn-t-have-to-be-confusing
If you are happy with all four concepts, let’s practise.
TEST 1
USUALLY OR USED TO
1. When I was a kid, I usually / used to play in a brass band.
2. When I lived in Italy, I usually / used to go skiing in Winter.
3. Do you usually / used to do your shopping online?
4. I can usually / used to convince my boss.
5. Does he usually / used to react like this?
6. My Dad usually / used to work as a mechanic when I was a kid.
7. We usually / used to have a Renault 4 when we were small.
8. We usually / used to have roast lamb, on Sunday.
9. Do you usually / used to go to the sales in January?
10. My sisters usually / used to spend hours getting ready to go out.
11. Society usually / used to hang criminals.
12. I usually / used to take a foreign holiday every summer.
13. We usually / used to buy comics when we were kids.
TEST 2
BE USED TO OR GET USED TO
Fill in the gaps in the following story with the verb be or get.
I am learning how to play the piano but I don’t know if I will ever _____ used to it.
I started 3 months ago. Little by little I am _____ used to reading music, but I cannot _____ used to playing music with two hands at the same time. What I _____ used to are the black notes. Yes. I seem to have mastered moving from the white keys to the black keys easily. I _____ also used to basic music terminology, so when my teacher talks about crochets and quavers I _____ used to it now. I did take me several weeks to _____ used to it, I must be honest. My teacher tells me I will _____ used to it all in about a year. One of the things I am having most difficulty with _____ used to are the pedals. It feels like I am trying to drive a car. Speaking of which, it took me just a few DAYS to _____ used to driving. Now I am a pro at it. I _____ even used to driving in the snow or in floods. I practised a lot in my Dad’s car so that I could _____ used to the gearbox, the steering wheel, the lights and the different mirrors. My Mum learned how to drive at the same time as me, but she says she _____ not used to it yet. She is still _____ used to all the different things she has to do at the same time. What are you _____ used to at the moment? When do you think you will_____used to doing it?
TEST 3
GET USED TO, BE USED TO OR USED TO
Below, you have the answers to some questions, with the most important part of the answer in bold. You need to write or ask the questions.
Be careful of the spelling! Do you need used to or use to?
1. It took me about an hour to get used to the smell.
_________________________________________________________________?
2. No. I’m not used to the weather.
_________________________________________________________________ ?
3. I used to eat lots of chicken nuggets when I was a kid.
_________________________________________________________________?
4. I didn’t get used to the food because it was too spicy.
______________________________________________________________________ ?
5. I used to wake up at 6 am when I was a very young child.
______________________________________________________________________ ?
6. We used to have a Ford Fiesta in the 80s.
______________________________________________________________________ ?
7. Yes, she is still getting used to her new hearing aid.
______________________________________________________________________ ?
8. I’m still getting used to speaking Spanish because I’m not great at foreign languages.
______________________________________________________________________ ?
9. The Smiths used to live in that house.
______________________________________________________________________ ?
10. She used to be a Catholic before she converted to Buddhism.
______________________________________________________________________ ?
11. It only took him 3 weeks to get used to living in Hamburg.
______________________________________________________________________ ?
12. No. It’s impossible to get used to that kind of cold.
______________________________________________________________________ ?
13. Yes, I am used to his accent.
______________________________________________________________________ ?
14. He didn’t get used to it because he didn’t try.
______________________________________________________________________ ?
15. No. I will never get used to it.
______________________________________________________________________ ?
TEST 4 PICK’N’MIX
Choose the correct option from get used to, is used to or used to.
1. I took me weeks to get used to/is used to/used to the weather in Ireland.
2. She can’t get used to/is used to/used to the food.
3. He said he get used to/is used to/used to the Mexican accent.
4. I get used to/is used to/used to play chess as a teenager.
5. My father get used to/is used to/used to reading the newspaper at breakfast time.
6. He will have to get used to/is used to/used to using chopsticks if he moves to China.
7. How quickly will you get used to/is used to/used to the heat in Seville?
8. She get used to/is used to/used to living in really small spaces.
9. My brother get used to/is used to/used to teaching his students on Zoom.
10. My father get used to/is used to/used to play international soccer for Ireland.
11. My Mum can’t get used to/is used to/used to using the online version of her favourite shop.
12. Could you get used to/is used to/used to staying inside 24 hours again?
13. My family get used to/is used to/used to go on holiday in Ireland in the 1980s.
ANSWER KEY
TEST 1
USUALLY OR USED TO
1. When I was a kid, I used to play in a brass band.
2. When I lived in Italy, I used to go skiing in Winter.
3. Do you usually do your shopping online?
4. I can usually convince my boss.
5. Does he usually react like this?
6. My Dad used to work as a mechanic when I was a kid.
7. We used to have a Renault 4 when we were small.
8. We usually have roast lamb, on Sunday.
9. Do you usually go to the sales in January?
10. My sisters usually spend hours getting ready to go out.
11. Society used to hang criminals.
12. I usually take a foreign holiday every summer.
13. We used to buy comics when we were kids.
TEST 2
BE USED TO OR GET USED TO
I am learning how to play the piano but I don’t know if I will ever get used to it.
I started 3 months ago. Little by little I am getting used to reading music, but I cannot get used to playing music with two hands at the same time. What I am used to are the black notes. Yes. I seem to have mastered moving from the white keys to the black keys easily. I am also used to basic music terminology, so when my teacher talks about crochets and quavers I am used to it now. I did take me several weeks to get used to it, I must be honest. My teacher tells me I will get used to it all in about a year. One of the things I am having most difficulty with getting used to are the pedals. It feels like I am trying to drive a car. Speaking of which, it took me just a few DAYS to get used to driving. Now I am a pro at it. I am even used to driving in the snow or in floods. I practised a lot in my Dad’s car so that I could get used to the gearbox, the steering wheel, the lights and the different mirrors. My Mum learned how to drive at the same time as me, but she says she is not used to it yet. She is still getting used to all the different things she has to do at the same time. What are you getting used to at the moment? When do you think you will beused to doing it?
TEST 3
GET USED TO, BE USED TO OR USED TO
1. How long did it take you to get used to the smell?
2. Are you used to the weather?
3. What did you use to eat lots of when you were a kid?
4. Why didn't you get used to the food?
5. What time did you use to wake up when you were a very young child?
6. What kind of car did you use to have in the 80s?
7. Is she still getting used to her new hearing aid?
8. Why are you still getting used to speaking Spanish?
9. Who used to live in that house?
10. What did she use to be before she converted to Buddhism?
11. How long did it take him to get used to living in Hamburg?
12. Is it possible to get used to that kind of cold?
13. Are you used to his accent?
14. Why didn't he get used to it?
15. Will you ever get used to it?
TEST 4 PICK’N’MIX
1. I took me weeks to get used to the weather in Ireland.
2. She can’t get used to the food.
3. He said he is used to the Mexican accent.
4. I used to play chess as a teenager.
5. My father is used to reading the newspaper at breakfast time.
6. He will have to get used to using chopsticks if he moves to China.
7. How quickly will you get used to the heat in Seville?
8. She is used to living in really small spaces.
9. My brother is used to teaching his students on Zoom.
10. My father used to play international soccer for Ireland.
11. My Mum can’t get used to using the online version of her favourite shop.
12. Could you get used to staying inside 24 hours again?
13. My family used to go on holiday in Ireland in the 1980s.
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