GRAMMAR

USED TO, BE USED TO & GET/ BECOME USED TO

1. USED TO + infinitive (Solía…)

a) It refers to a habit in the past that you did for a long time but you don’t do it anymore. It
is used only in the past simple.
- Affirmative sentence = He used to walk to work when he was younger. (Solía ir
caminando al trabajo cuando era más joven.)
- Negative = He didn’t use to walk to work when he was younger.
- Interrogative = Did he use to walk to work when he was younger? Yes, he did./ no,
he didn’t.

b) Past states that existed in the past but don’t exist now. They are expressed using
stative verbs (like, love, hate, be, have, know, own…).
I used to like The Beatles but now I never listen to them
She used to have long hair but nowadays her hair is very short

2) BE USED TO + Verb –ing or noun (Estar acostumbrado a…)

a) It refers to something you are accustomed to; if you are used to something, you have
often done it or experienced it, so it’s not strange, new or difficult for you. It can be
used in all tenses.
- Affirmative = I am used to getting up early in the morning (-ing form) (Estoy
acostumbrado a levantarme temprano por la mañana.)
He is used to loud noises (noun) (Él está acostumbrado a los ruidos
altos.)
- Negative = I am not used to getting up early in the morning.
He isn’t used to loud noises
- Interrogative = Are you used to getting up early in the morning?
Is he used to loud noises?

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3) GET/ BECOME USED TO + Verb- ing or Noun (Acostumbrarse a…)

a) To become accustomed to something. It is the process of becoming accustomed to

something. It can be used in all tenses.
Affirmative = After a while he didn’t mind the noise in the office; he got used to it
(-ing form) (Después de un tiempo, a él no le importaba el ruido de la
oficina; se acostumbró a ello.)
You will get used to your new mattress. (noun) (Te acostumbrarás a tu
nuevo colchón.)
Negative = He didn’t get used to it. / You won’t get used to your new mattress.
Interrogative = Did he get used to it? / Will you get used to your new mattress?

WORKSHEET

1) Write USED TO, BE USED TO or GET USED TO in the spaces provided. Make sure
you use the correct verb tense.
1. When I was a teenager I ……………………….... dress up for Halloween, but not anymore.
2. At first I was really nervous about driving in Vancouver, but now I ...................………. to it.
3. I don't think I'll ever ……………………..… to the rain in Vancouver.
4. Mike is Chinese. He is not …………………..…… speaking English in the office.
5. The smell of fish is awful, but you'll ……….……… it after a couple of months in the job.
6. There are some things in this life that you'll never ……………..………… to.
7. It will take a while for the office staff to ……………….… the new computer software.
8. Two years ago, the students …………………… have four hours a week of language
lessons, but now they have three hours.
9. She ………………………..……… to hard work. She grew up in a very poor family.
10. My children………………..……… to eating hamburgers, but I don't think I'll ever ………
……… to eating them.
11. People from Africa …………….……… to hot weather because of the dry and hot climate
there.
12. I wasn't happy about working the evening shift but I have…………………….. to it now.
13. When I was starting to write, I ………..………… think I would never be as good as
Margaret Atwood.
14. Mr. Blundell ……………….. do lots of interviews when he was the mayor of Vancouver.
15. He never ………….……….. to flying a helicopter, even after years of working as a co-
pilot.

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 Intermediate grammar exercise:
used to, be used to, get used to

English grammar practice exercise, intermediate

In this exercise you will practise ​used to​, ​be used to​ and ​get used to​.

Exercise instructions
Choose the best answer to fill the gap in each of the following.

1. ​When I started to work here I needed a lot of help, but now I ______ all the work on my own.

a. am used to doing b. used to do c. get used to doing

2. He ______ several books a month, but he doesn't have time any more.

a. was used to reading b. got used to reading c. used to read

3. We were surprised to see her driving ​–​ she ______ when we first met her.

a. didn't use to drive b. got used to driving c. was used to driving

4. Don't worry, it's a simple program to use. You ______ it in no time, I'm sure.

a. used to use b. are used to c. will get used to

5. When I had to commute to work every day I ______ very early.

a. used to getting up b. used to get up

​ ​www.speakspeak.com​ – English grammar and exercises​ 1.

 Intermediate grammar exercise:
used to, be used to, get used to

6. I'm afraid I'll never ______ in this place. I simply don't like it and never will.

a. got used to living b. used to live c. get used to living

7. Whenever we came to Coventry we always ______ in the Central Hotel. We loved it.

a. used to stay b. got used to staying

8. When Pete Smith was the head of our office everything ______ well organized. Now it's total
chaos here.

a. got used to be b. was used to being c. used to be

9. Mr Lazy was shocked when he joined our busy company because he ______ doing much
work everyday.

a. wasn't used to b. didn't use to

10. At first the employees didn't like the new open-space office, but in the end they ______ it.

a. got used to b. get used to c. are used to

​ ​www.speakspeak.com​ – English grammar and exercises​ 2.

 Intermediate grammar exercise:
used to, be used to, get used to

Key
1. ​When I started to work here I needed a lot of help, but now I ​a. ​am used to doing​ all the work
on my own.

2. He ​c. used to read​ ​ several books a month, but he doesn't have time any more.

3. We were surprised to see her driving ​–​ she ​a. didn't use to drive​ when we first met her.

4. Don't worry, it's a simple program to use. You ​c. will get used to​ it in no time, I'm sure.

5. When I had to commute to work every day I ​b. used to get up​ very early.

6. I'm afraid I'll never ​c. get used to living​ in this place. I simply don't like it and never will.

7. Whenever we came to Coventry we always ​a. used to stay​ in the Central Hotel. We loved it.

8. When Pete Smith was the head of our office everything ​ c. used to be​ well organized. Now
it's total chaos here.

9. Mr Lazy was shocked when he joined our busy company because he ​ a. wasn't used to​ doing
much work everyday.

10. At first the employees didn't like the new open-space office, but in the end they ​a. got used
to​ it.

Online version of this exercise ​https://goo.gl/VnEK7S

More downloads​: ​speakspeak.com/downloads

​ ​www.speakspeak.com​ – English grammar and exercises​ 3.

 Used To & Would Past Conversation Questions

Talk about the distant past by using used to and would in your answers.
Use either expression for repeated, habit-like actions in the past.
I used to/would watch MTV every day after school.
Use only used to for extended situations in the past.
My father used to work at a nuclear power plant.

Discussion Questions:

1. Think of your childhood. What did you do after school most days?
2. What toys were very popular when you were young, and what did you play with?

3. During high school, what did you do when you got together with your friends?
4. How did you get money when you were young? Did you receive an allowance, or did you earn money somehow?

5. Is there a food that your opinion has changed on? Do you eat
something now that you didn’t like before?
6. When you were young, where did your extended family get together?
What did you do together?
7. Before mobile phones were common, how did people locate each
other when they were not at home?

8. Did you have a pet in the past?

9. Can you think of clothing that used to be popular? How does that style
look now?
10. Did you smoke, bite your fingernails, or suck your thumb in the past? Did you have some other bad habit that you
were able to quit?

11. What are some electronic devices you have owned in the past? Which companies made them?
12. Has your knowledge or opinion changed over time? What did you think before? What changed your mind?

13. Did someone you know change their job or retire? What did they use to do?
14. Have you ever owned a car? Or a bicycle?
15. Name a singer or band that you have grown to like or dislike over time?

16. What did people do before they could look up information easily on the internet?

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