Used to do | Be used to | Quiz Used to do We use used to do to talk about the past. It is not a tense but it is like a tense.

It is a special expression. We use the expression used to do for the past only. Do not confuse used to do with with the expression be used to. They have different meanings. Structure of Used to do The structure is: auxiliary main verb subject did not use infinitive + I - I ? Did Used or use?

used did you not use use

to do. to do. to do?

when there is did in the sentence, we say use to (without d) when there is no did in the sentence, we say used to (with d)

Use of Used to do We use the used to do expression to talk about:

an activity that we did regularly in the past (like a habit) a situation that was true in the past I used to smoke.

////// past

present

future

Look at these examples. the past She used to work in a shop. He used to watch a lot of TV. They used to be married. the present Now she works in a bank. Now he doesn't watch much TV. Now they are divorced.

There used to be a cinema here. Now there is a supermarket here. I didn't use to go swimming. Did you use to smoke? Now I go swimming.

Used to do | Be used to | Quiz Be used to Be used to something Be used to doing Be used to is an expression. It is not a tense. If I say "I am used to Thailand", it is like saying "I am accustomed to Thailand." Do not confuse be used to with with the special construction used to do. They have different meanings. Structure of Be used to The structure is: subject + be + used to + object main verb subject be not used to object

+ I He We ? Are

am is aren't you

used to horses. not used to horses. used to horses. used to horses?

If the object invoves a verb, we use the -ing form: I He am not used to being lied to. is used to working late. used to taking the bus. used to cooking?

We aren't Are you

Why do we use -ing for a verb after be used to? Because we always use -ing for a verb after a preposition - and the to is a preposition. Use of Be used to The be used to expression is for talking about something that is familiar to us or easy for us. For example:

I am used to driving on the left.

It means that it is not a problem for me to drive on the left of the road. I am Japanese. In Japan, people drive on the left. Now I am living in the USA where people drive on the right. Of course, I drive on the right in the USA, but when I go to Japan it is easy for me to drive on the left because "I am used to it".

Look at these examples.

I am used to hard work. I am used to working hard. He is not used to New York. He isn't used to living in New York. Are you used to fast food? Are you used to eating quickly?

Tenses We can use be used to in any tense. We just conjugate the verb be in the tense that we need. Look at these examples:

When we lived in Bangkok, we were used to hot weather. I have been used to snakes for a long time. You will soon be used to living alone.
Clothes (la Ropa)

"used to" vs. "be used to" vs. "get used to"
used to
As we studied in Advanced Lesson 2 "used to" can be used to express past habit.
To review Lesson 2 click HERE.

I used to walk to school.

Caminaba a la escuela.

NOTE: In the negative form the word "didn't" indicates that the sentence is negative so "used to" changes to its basic form "use to". Similarly, in the question form the word "Did" indicates that the sentence is negative. I didn't use to walk to school. Did you use to walk to school?

be used to

(estar acostumbrado)

We use the verb "to be" together with "used to" to express that we are accustomed to something. I am used to exercising every day.
Estoy acostumbrado a hacer ejercicio todos los das.

get used to

(acostumbrarse)

We use the verb "get" together with "used to" to express that we are becoming accustomed to something. I am getting used to waking up early.
Me estoy acostumbrando a levantarme temprano.

NOTE: The word "get" can be used with many adjectives to mean "se." get used to - acostumbrarse get drunk - emborracharse get tired - cansarse get bored - aburrirse
get sick - enfermarse get engaged - comprometerse get married - casarse get divorced - divorciarse

NOTE: "be used to" and "get used to" are used with the gerund (the -ing form of the verb) while "used to" is used with the infinitive (the basic form of the verb). I used to walk. I am used to walking. I get used to walking.

Practice Select the correct translation of the sentences. 1. Ella limpiaba la casa. She used to clean the house. She got used to cleaning the house. She is used to cleaning the house.

2. l se acostumbr a levantarse temprano. He used to wake up early. He is used to waking up early. He got used to waking up early.

3. Pablo est acostumbrado a ir tarde. Pablo is used to going late. Pablo used to go late. Pablo is getting used to going late.

4. Estoy acostumbrada a cocinar en la maana. I am getting used to cooking in the morning. I am used to cooking in the morning. I used to cook in the morning.

5. Maria manejaba el carro. Maria used to drive the car. Maria got used to driving the car. Maria is used to driving the car.

6. Ella se est acostumbrando a trabajar en esa compaa. She is getting used to working at that company. She used to work at that company. She is used to working at that company.

7. No lea muchos libros. I didn't use to read many books. I am used to reading many books.

I got used to reading many books.

8. Ests acostumbrado al clima? Are you used to the climate? Did you used to the climate? Did you get used to the climate?

Practice
Write the sentence using the information in parentheses so that the sentence has the meaning of the sentence written in Spanish. example
I got used to s

(speak English)

Me acostumbr a hablar ingls.