be used to / get used to

Rules

• Rule 1: be used to = be familiar with

  When something feels normal and familiar to you: be used to + -ing / noun. be shows the tense: am / is / are (now), was / were (past).

  Pattern: Subject + am / is / are / was / were + used to + -ing / noun

  Example: She's used to speaking English at home.

  Example: We were used to the heat.

• Rule 2: get used to = become familiar (a process)

  When something is slowly becoming normal: get used to + -ing / noun. *get* changes like any normal verb: is getting, got, will get, has gotten (American English).

  Pattern: is getting / got / will get / has gotten + used to + -ing / noun

  Example: I'm getting used to the new bus route.

  Example: Don't worry, you'll get used to it.

• Rule 3: used to + base verb = a past habit

  Without be or get, the meaning changes: used to + base verb = something that happened regularly in the past but not now (see the topic “used to / would”). In negatives and questions the d drops: didn't use to, Did you use to …?

  Pattern: used to + base verb

  Example: I used to have a scooter.

  Example: Grandpa used to play the banjo.

• Rule 4: Negatives and questions

  In be used to, the helper verb is be: I'm not used to…, Are you used to…? (no do/does!). get used to works like a normal verb: I didn't get used to…, Did you get used to…?

  Pattern: isn't used to · Is she used to…? · didn't get used to · Did you get used to…?

  Example: Is your cat used to the dog? — Yes, it is.

  Example: Did you get used to the new teacher quickly?

Common mistakes

• I'm used to get up early. → I'm used to getting up early.

  Here to is a preposition, so -ing follows.

• I used to living in Chicago. → I used to live in Chicago. / I'm used to living in Chicago.

  Past habit → used to + base verb; familiar → be used to + -ing.

• Do you used to the noise? → Are you used to the noise?

  The helper verb in be used to is be, not do.