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.
[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.
[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.
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