You probably shook your head as you were reading the title of this blog entry as you thought:
“Nope, that’s not me!”
If not, lucky you. You don’t need to read this. You can get on with whatever you were doing. However, before you go, answer me this:
Why have I spent at least 10 minutes of every day of the last 15 years of my life explaining, correcting and reteaching used to and why it has nothing to do with to get used to and be used to?
NOTHING!
Do you hear me?
NOTHING!
I wish students could get used to using all these verbs correctly.
Especially “used to”.
I really do. And be honest, you should too.
So, let’s make a pact.
I will explain it the best way I know in this blogpost and you will never ever forget how to use it?
Me: Is it a deal?
You: Deal!
So! Let’s start with the basics of “used to”
THE.
BASICS.
USED TO
*I USED TO MAKE MISTAKES WITH ‘USED TO’.
So, in life, there are things that we did in the past but which we no longer do. Things that we usually did in the past. Remember, past actions that have stopped.
Let’s just be 100% clear. We do not use used to when we talk about the present!
Don’t be tempted.
We are dealing with actions which were very common, but in the past. When we want to talk about frequent actions now, we use usually!!!
Here are some things I “USED TO” DO.
· When I was five years old, I used to cry a lot and break things.
(I don’t do this anymore. I promise).
· When I was a teenager, I used to have very bad acne.
(No need to ask. It’s gone now!)
· When I was at university, I used to study more than people thought.
(I haven’t studied for a long, LONG time).
HOW TO USE IT
Affirmative Sentences
Subject + used to + bare infinitive
I used to play the piano when I was a child.
Negative Sentences
Subject + auxiliary verb + negative + use to + bare infinitive
I didn’t use to watch horror movies when I was a child.
Questions
Auxiliary verb + subject + use to + bare infinitive
Did you use to speak English when you were a child.
You will have noticed that we say “used to” in affirmative sentences but “use to” in negative sentences and questions. The letter “d” disappears in the negative and interrogative sentences because we use an auxiliary verb and THIS verb is conjugated and not “use”.
POINTS TO NOTE
Other verbs
· We don’t use any other verbs before ‘used to’. We have the subject of the sentence, then used to and finally the action you periodically did in the past.
Specific times
· We don’t use “used to” in sentences with specific dates or times. In such cases, we use the past simple.
We DON’T say, for example:
I used to play basketball in 1991.
We DO say:
I used to play basketball when I was a teenager.
I used to play basketball in the early 90s. (more general)
NOW, BEFORE READING ON…
Think of 10 things you used to do but don’t do anymore!
BE USED TO AND GET USED TO
If you guessed that we are now going to deal with to be used to and to get used to, you were right! IT’S TIME FOR A CHANGE!
To be used to and to get used to have nothing to do with actions which no longer happen.
Instead, we’re going to talk about new skills, how you start from scratch, gradually improve your knowledge and finally become an expert.
Remember, when we are talking about the process of acquiring a new skill or knowledge, we DO place a verb before used to, either to be or to get, and this might be just the right time to see how to use them.
JOURNEY TO KNOWLEDGE
TO GET USED TO
This verb is used to describe a process of learning, right from the beginning when we don’t know how to do something, right through all the different steps of becoming an expert but stopping just before we ARE experts. This verb only describes the process.
Subject + get used to + noun
Subject + get used to + verb + ing
(+) I am getting used to the weather. It’s horrible!
(-) I’m not getting used to the nose from the traffic.
(+) I found it difficult to get used to his accent.
(+) I got used to living in China after several years.
(?) Are you getting used to speaking Spanish?
We often use this verb in the present continuous, because we are referring to something that we are learning to do right now. 0
When we use this verb in the past tense or past perfect tense, it has a similar meaning to “be used to”
After I had lived in China for 3 years, I had gotten used to eating with chopsticks. *the focus is on the process.
After I had lived in China for 3 years, I was used to eating with chopsticks. *the focus is on the final result.
FINAL DESTINATION – YOU’RE AN EXPERT: TO BE USED TO
This verb comes at the end of the process of learning you started with to get used to.
After you have started to learn something new and you have practised it quite a few times, eventually, you are able to do it without any difficulty. You reach the level of expert.
Subject + be used to + noun
Subject + be used to + verb + ing
Once you know how to do something well you might say:
(+) I don’t like it much, but I am used to the weather now.
(+) I found it difficult, but after six months I am finally used to his accent.
(+) I came to China six years ago and I am now used to living here.
(-) I have been in Germany for 10 years now but I am still not used to their food.
(?) Are you used to the smell now?
Very often we use the present simple tense with this verb because we are talking about a current state.
HOMEWORK
Now that you know the theory, how about you try completing the following sentences
Choose from used to, get used to or be used to in every s
1. When I was a child, I used to/am used to/ got used to suck my thumb.
2. After a year here, I used to/am used to/got used to the weather.
3. I was happier in Greece after I used to/am used to/got used to the language.
4. I used to/am used to/got used to living in Spain now.
5. I used to/am used to/got used to living in Spain over many years.
6. In all honesty, I used to/am used to/got used to make a lot of mistakes when I started baking.
7. I used to/am used to/got used to live next door to Queen Letizia before she was famous.
8. I made a big effort, so I used to/am used to/got used to speaking Catalan now.
9. After several years living in Korea, finally I used to/am used to/got used to
eating Korean food.
10. I can say that now, I used to/am used to/ got used to making and eating kimchi.
11. When I was at college I used to/am used to/got used to play cards in the canteen.
12. She said she used to/am used to/got used to her husband’s family only after several years.
13. I have been here for years now, so finally, I used to/am used to/got used to
the traffic.
14. Can’t you tell that I used to/am used to/got used to your weird habits now?
15. I took me several years, but finally I used to/am used to/got used to eating with chopsticks.
ANSWERS
1. used to 2. got used to 3. got used to 4. am used to 5. got used to
6. used to 7. used to 8. am used to 9. am used to 10. am used to
11. used to 12. got used to 13. am used to 14. am used to 15. got used to
I hope you are having a productive and fun summer.
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