Used To, Be Used To, and Get Used To

Used to, be used to and get used to look similar, but they express three different ideas. Learning the meaning first makes the grammar much easier.

1. Used to + base verb: a past habit or state

Use used to + verb for something that was true or happened regularly in the past but is not true now.

• I used to live in Shymkent.
• She used to study late at night.
• There used to be a café here.

For questions and negatives, modern English commonly uses did: Did you use to work here? / I didn’t use to like coffee.

2. Be used to + noun/-ing: something feels normal

Use be used to when something is familiar or normal for you.

• I am used to online meetings.
• She is used to working with international clients.
• They are used to the cold weather.

Here, to is a preposition, so a following verb uses -ing.

3. Get used to + noun/-ing: the process of adapting

Use get used to when something is becoming normal.

• I’m getting used to speaking English at work.
• It took me a month to get used to the new schedule.

Compare all three

I used to work at night. = That was my past routine, but it is not my routine now.

I am used to working at night. = Working at night feels normal to me.

I am getting used to working at night. = I am still adapting.

Common mistake

I am used to work from home. → I am used to working from home.

Quick practice

1. I ___ drink tea every morning, but now I prefer coffee.
2. She is ___ speaking in front of large groups.
3. We are slowly ___ the new software.

Answers: used to; used to; getting used to.

Time and tense flexibility

Be used to and get used to can change tense because the verb be or get carries the time. You can say I was used to the routine, I am used to the routine, or I will get used to the routine. The meaning stays connected to familiarity, but the time changes.

Speaking practice

Create three personal sentences: one thing you used to do but no longer do, one thing you are used to now, and one thing you are still getting used to. Personal examples make these similar-looking forms much easier to remember.