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Using “used to” Correctly

Using the different forms of “used to” correctly is a grammar topic that gives students a lot of difficulty. In this lesson, students review the different ways we can use “used to” in English.

Go over the chart with your students and then have them do the practice activity and conversation questions.

 

The Different Ways to Use “used to”

Look at the chart below and notice the different ways that we can use “used to” in English.

I used to wake up early.
I’m used to waking up early. I’m getting used to waking up early.
Subject + “used to” + base form Subject + “to be” + “used to” + gerund or noun Subject + “get” +“used to” + gerund or noun
We use this form to talk about something that happened in the past that does not happen anymore. In the sentence above, the speaker is communicating that he/she woke up early in the past, but that he/she doesn’t currently wake up early.

Negative form:
I didn’t use to wake up early.
I didn’t used to wake up early.

Question form:
Did you use to wake up early?
Did you used to wake up early?

 

We use this form to talk about something that we are accustomed to doing. We typically use this form to talk about whether or not something is a problem. In the sentence above, the speaker is communicating that waking up early is not a problem because it is something that he/she is accustomed to doing.

Negative form:
I’m not used to waking up early.

In this form, “used to” can also be followed by a noun:
I wasn’t used to city life, so living in Tokyo was difficult.

We use this form to talk about something that we are becoming accustomed to.

In this form, “used to” can also be followed by a noun:
We’re still getting used to the new uniforms.

Additional examples:Ÿ
I used to live in New York, but now I live in New Jersey.Ÿ
Our call centers used to be in the United States, but now they are in India.
Additional examples:Ÿ
We’re used to working in a high-pressure environment, so meeting the deadline won’t be a problem.Ÿ
They weren’t used to working overtime, so it was difficult at first.
Additional examples:
ŸYou’ll have to get used to the traffic if you move to the city.
ŸIt’s my second week in Canada and I’m still getting used to the cold weather.

 

Practice

1. ________________a meeting at 8 a.m., but now it’s at 9 a.m.

A. We‘re used to having
B. We used to have
C. We got used to have

 

2. Being a customer service representative was difficult at first, but then I ________________ with customer complaints.

A. got used to dealing
B. got used to deal
C. was used to dealing

 

3. Karen just got back from India.  She looks tired.  I think _________________the time change.

A. she’s getting used to
B. she’s used to
C. she used to

 

4. I don’t like international travel because ________________ away from my family.

A. I’m getting used to being
B. I don’t use to be
C. I’m not used to being

 

5. ________________ my email at home, but now I always check my email at night.

A. I wasn’t used to check
B. I didn’t use to checking
C. I didn’t use to check

 

6. She doesn’t like the city because  ________________ in a small town.

A. She’s used to live
B. She’s used to living
C. She used to living

 

Conversation Questions

With a partner, discuss the following:

1. Compare your current self to how you were as a senior in college. How have you changed? What did you use to be like? How are you different now?

2. How have you grown as a professional? What did you use to be like? How are you better now?

3. Think about the job you have now. What was challenging when you first got the job? What are some things you had to get used to? Is there anything you are still getting used to doing?

4. Moving to another country would be difficult because I’m used to…

5. Moving to another country would be difficult because I’m not used to…

6. If you were self-employed, what would be different? What would you have to get used to?

7. Tell your group about your hometown. How has your hometown changed in the last 10 years? What did it use to be like? What is it like now?