What's the Difference Between Used To, Be Used To and Get Used To?

The difference between used to, be used, and get used to is:

1. Used to is a verb we use to talk about something that happened in the past that doesn’t happen
anymore. We always use it in the past tense.
2. Be/get used to is an adjective that means we are so familiar with something that is seems
normal or usual. Just as with any adjective, we can use the verb be or get before it.

Note: Used to actually functions as a modal verb

Structure
 Subject + used to + base verb + . . .

Examples
 He used to work here.
 She used to run every day.
 We used to be good friends.
 They never used to make so much noise.
 We sometimes used to swim in the river.
 He always used to eat dessert after every meal.

How to Use Be Used To and Get Used To

Both be used to and get used to are adjectives that mean we are accustomed to doing something,
or that we are in the process of getting accustomed to it.

 I am used to waking up early.

(I am accustomed to waking up early.)
 It was uncomfortable at first, but eventually, I got used to public speaking.
(Eventually, I got accustomed to public speaking.)
 Structure
With be/get used to, there are two possible structures:

 Subject + be/get + used to + -ing

 Subject + be/get + used + noun

 “I wasn’t used to the humidity when I first moved to Taiwan, but eventually, I got used to it.”

So we often say that we got used to something when we were in a situation that felt strange or difficult,
and we slowly became accustomed to it until it felt normal.

Remember also that we always follow get used to with a noun or a gerund (-ing verb). We never follow it with
a base verb.

 It took him a while to get used to the slower pace of life here.
 When I was younger, I hated waking up early. But eventually, I got used to it.
 Even though they have lived here for nine years, they still can’t get used to the winters.
We often use get used to in the continuous form if the process of change is still ongoing:
 I am slowly getting used to the weather here.

Be Used To
We can use be used to to show how something that didn’t feel normal in the past feels
normal now.

 He is used to the sound of their fighting now.

 We are used to the smaller rooms in this apartment.
 He’s still not used to his new work environment.
 We’re already used to the customs here.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

 In American English, the negative form of used to is didn’t use to, but in British English, it’s
okay to say used to not. Just be careful not to get confused.
o They didn’t use to argue so much. (American English)
o They used to not argue so much. (British English)
 Be careful not to confuse be used to with the modal verb used to.
o She was used to visit her grandmother more often.
o She used to visit her grandmother more often.
o They were used to invite us to dinner sometimes.
o They used to invite us to dinner sometimes.

 Be careful not to confuse be used to with get used to.

o I am got used to the new apartment.
o I am used to the new apartment.
o They aren’t get used to having a dog.
o They aren’t used to having a dog.