Open Mind

Upper Intermediate
Unit 6 Grammar 1
BE USED TO / GET
USED TO
 BE USED TO / GET USED TO

1. Who talks about something not familiar? A

2. Did he become familiar with Mexico? No
3. Can you notice an error?

A: Do you think
you’ll ever get
used to being
using
in this country?
B: Probably. I know
I didn’t get used to
Mexico, but I’ll
C: What type of thing aren’t
definitely get used
you used to here? Will you get to living here.
used to the traditions?
 BE USED TO / GET USED TO

Look at the conversation.

B: I’m not. I’m just
not used to life here.
A: I’m used to living I’m getting used to
in different countries. hearing the language
but definitely not to
speaking it yet.

1. Which sentence tells us about things they are in the

process of becoming familiar with?
2. How do they talk about things they are/aren’t
familiar with? I’m used to / I’m not used to
 BE USED TO / GET USED TO

Other examples of be used to / get used to:

A: Do you think you B: Well, I’m used to

could get used to arranging and organising
organising the social things with my friends,
events? but I’m not used to being
on time.

A: I don’t think I could get used to someone

being late all of the time. I’m used to being
punctual. I’m always on time.
 BE USED TO / GET USED TO

Look at the examples. Which verb goes before used to?

I’m used to our local traditions. I’m not used to

talking in big groups.
____
be

I’m not getting used

I’m going to have to get used
to the local accent.
to earning less money.

get
____
TIP: Remember that a gerund
or a noun follows used to.
 BE USED TO / GET USED TO

Complete the missing forms to match their meanings.

form
being familiar ___
be + _________
used to + noun/gerund
not being
___ + __________ + noun/gerund
familiar be not used to
becoming
___ + _________ + noun/gerund
familiar get used to
not becoming _______ + _________
not get used to
familiar + noun/gerund
 BE USED TO / GET USED TO

Have you got used to being around so

many new people?

To talk about becoming familiar with

different things, we can use ____
get .

He’s not used to shaking hands with

everyone he meets.

To talk about already being familiar or not

being familiar with things, we can use ____
be .
 BE USED TO / GET USED TO

What’s wrong?

1. Little by little, she’s getting

being used to eating at
different times of the day.

2. They find it difficult to be

get used to waking up so
early.

3. He isused
usedto
to celebrating different holidays.

4. I’m not used

use to this weather – it’s so humid.
 BE USED TO / GET USED TO

1. Use your own ideas to complete the statements.

I find it really difficult

to get used to ...

Well, I’m very used to ...

I’m not used to ...

2. Work in pairs. Talk to your partner.

 BE USED TO / GET USED TO

Grammar wrap-up

1. When we use be + used to +

noun/gerund, we talk about things we True
are or aren’t familiar with.

2. We can use get + used to +

noun/gerund to express that we’re True
becoming familiar with something.

3. Do you use these structures? When do you use

them?