Used to

Hello learners:

Today in class we reviewed both the structures and uses of two different constructions: 'Used to' and 'Be/Get Used to'. Remember 'used to + infinitive' expresses past habits that are no longer true in the present. This idea is possible as well through 'usually + past simple' or the more literary one 'would always + infinitive' (typical in narratives). 'Would always' isn't employed with states. Never forget that 'used to' is only possible in the past. In order to express this idea in the present, you need to use 'usually + present simple.' The negative for 'used to' is the expected form 'didn't use to', although some people also use 'usedn't to', which grammatically is correct but a little bit archaic in use.

However, 'be/get used to + verb-ing' expresses that you are in the habit of doing something and thus you're accustomed to doing that something. This structure also admits a noun phrase instead of a verb. Remember it is possible in any tense, present, past, future. Look at these examples:

(A) I used to play the bass as a child.
I usually played the bass as a child.
I would always play the bass as a child.

(B) I'm not used to driving on the left.
She didn't get used to American food.
You'll be used to working overnight.

All the sentences in (A) have the same meaning: "you played the bass when you were a child, but you don't any more." The third sentence here is more literary and it would be used in narrative contexts. The examples in (B) are a bit different in meaning with respect to the previous group. You see the verbs are in different tenses, and also they are followed either by a gerund ('driving', 'working') or by a noun phrase ('American food'). In all of them the sense is similar, to be or get accustomed to something or to doing something.

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For practice: Exercise1, Exercise2, Exercise3, Exercise4, Exercise5.