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USED TO - Lesson 8, Part 2 - Common Mistakes in English
Topic: GET USED TO. This is a lesson in two parts. Have you seen Part 1? In Part 1, we address USED TO and BE USED TO.
 
BE USED TO refers to only one time period: past, present, or future.

• It expresses that something is familiar, comfortable, or normal for someone.

Examples:
[past]          It was hard to move to the city at first because I wasn’t used to all the noise.
 
[present]    I’ve been living in the city for two years now, so I’m used to all the noise.
 
[future]       Are you from the country, too? Don’t worry.
                   After a few months, you’ll be used to all the noise here in the city.
GET USED TO also refers to only one time period: past, present, or future.

• It expresses that someone becomes familiar or comfortable with a situation or activity.

Examples:
[past]          It took several months before I got used to city life.
[present]    I lived in the country for most of my life, but I enjoy living in New York now.
                    I’m getting used to city life.
[future]       Are you from the country, too? Don’t worry. You’ll get used to city life soon enough.
Be careful to note the grammar these expressions require:

BE USED TO and GET USED TO are always followed by an object, which can be a noun, pronoun, or gerund.
I wasn’t used to the noise. / I had to get used to the noise.
[subject + be used to + noun (or noun phrase)]
I wasn’t used to it. / I got used to it.
[subject + be used to + pronoun]
I wasn’t used to living in the city. / I got used to living in the city.
[subject + be used to + gerund (or gerund phrase)]
The verb BE must agree with the subject.

Check your understanding with the following exercise.
Choose the answer that best completes the statement.
Example:
You live in the city now, but you’re from a small town. How easy was it for you ____________?
                    a. used to live in a city
                    b. to be used to city life
                    c. to get used to city life