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Used to + base verb describes a past habit or state that is no longer true. Be used to + noun or -ing means something is familiar. Get used to + noun or -ing describes becoming familiar.
| Use | Example | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Former habit or state | I used to share a room. | This describes the past and normally contrasts it with now. |
| Already familiar | I am used to sharing a room. | Sharing feels normal to me now. |
| Adapting | I am getting used to sharing a room. | The situation is becoming familiar. |
| Past familiarity | I was used to the noise. | Be used to can have a past-time form; it is not limited to the present. |
| Negative former habit | I did not use to study here. | After did not, standard written English uses use, without d. |
Check: I am used to study early.
Use: I am used to studying early.
Be used to takes a noun or an -ing form. Used to study, without am, has a different meaning.
Read the example and explain the choice before answering. After the exercise, write a new sentence using the same pattern. Revisit any answer you could not explain, even if you guessed correctly.
4 sets · 40 exercises · about 50–70 minutes with writing and review.
10 scored questions, 20 sentence exercises and 10 writing challenges. Time depends on your pace. Start with the quiz or choose the practice you need.
Your scored quiz and self-reviewed exercises are tracked separately on this device.
Questions 1–5 build confidence; 6–10 check transfer and detail. Use Practice for feedback after each answer, or Test yourself to check at the end.
10 questions · 10 XP per correct answer · explanations included
used to walk. Used to walk describes a past routine that changed. Am used to walking describes familiarity now, not the old routine.
waking. After be used to, to is a preposition, so use the -ing form waking.
getting used to. Getting used to describes the process of adapting. It is becoming easier, rather than already feeling normal.
Did you use to revise here?. After did, use the base form use: Did you use to revise here? This asks about the old habit, not familiarity.
I am used to working alone.. Am used to describes an established state of familiarity. Used to describes a former habit; getting used to describes adaptation still in progress.
used to. Used to plus base verb describes a past state that has changed.
getting up. Be used to means be accustomed to; to is a preposition followed by -ing here.
driving. Get used to describes becoming accustomed to something and takes -ing after to.
use to. After did, use the base form use in this standard written question.
The noise is becoming more familiar.. Getting used to describes the process of adjustment, not a finished past habit.
Complete the missing words, then compare the expected form. More than one natural answer may be possible; use the cue and explanation.
used to
We used to play outside every evening, but we no longer do.
Used to + base verb describes a past habit/state. Be used to means accustomed to; get used to means become accustomed to. The latter two take a noun or -ing.
working
She is used to working at night. (work)
Used to + base verb describes a past habit/state. Be used to means accustomed to; get used to means become accustomed to. The latter two take a noun or -ing.
living
He is getting used to living alone. (live)
Used to + base verb describes a past habit/state. Be used to means accustomed to; get used to means become accustomed to. The latter two take a noun or -ing.
use to
Did you use to cycle to school?
Used to + base verb describes a past habit/state. Be used to means accustomed to; get used to means become accustomed to. The latter two take a noun or -ing.
use to
I didn’t use to enjoy cooking.
Used to + base verb describes a past habit/state. Be used to means accustomed to; get used to means become accustomed to. The latter two take a noun or -ing.
used to
They used to own a shop, but they sold it.
Used to + base verb describes a past habit/state. Be used to means accustomed to; get used to means become accustomed to. The latter two take a noun or -ing.
travelling
We are used to travelling by train. (travel)
Used to + base verb describes a past habit/state. Be used to means accustomed to; get used to means become accustomed to. The latter two take a noun or -ing.
waking
It took me a month to get used to waking early. (wake)
Used to + base verb describes a past habit/state. Be used to means accustomed to; get used to means become accustomed to. The latter two take a noun or -ing.
used to
She used to have long hair, but she cut it short.
Used to + base verb describes a past habit/state. Be used to means accustomed to; get used to means become accustomed to. The latter two take a noun or -ing.
speaking
Are you used to speaking in public? (speak)
Used to + base verb describes a past habit/state. Be used to means accustomed to; get used to means become accustomed to. The latter two take a noun or -ing.
Complete the missing words, then compare the expected form. More than one natural answer may be possible; use the cue and explanation.
sharing
He is not used to sharing a room. (share)
Used to + base verb describes a past habit/state. Be used to means accustomed to; get used to means become accustomed to. The latter two take a noun or -ing.
wearing
I am slowly getting used to wearing glasses. (wear)
Used to + base verb describes a past habit/state. Be used to means accustomed to; get used to means become accustomed to. The latter two take a noun or -ing.
used to
My grandparents used to live by the sea; now they live inland.
Used to + base verb describes a past habit/state. Be used to means accustomed to; get used to means become accustomed to. The latter two take a noun or -ing.
use to
Did she use to work here?
Used to + base verb describes a past habit/state. Be used to means accustomed to; get used to means become accustomed to. The latter two take a noun or -ing.
use to
We didn’t use to have a garden.
Used to + base verb describes a past habit/state. Be used to means accustomed to; get used to means become accustomed to. The latter two take a noun or -ing.
using
You will get used to using the new keyboard. (use)
Used to + base verb describes a past habit/state. Be used to means accustomed to; get used to means become accustomed to. The latter two take a noun or -ing.
walking
They are used to walking long distances. (walk)
Used to + base verb describes a past habit/state. Be used to means accustomed to; get used to means become accustomed to. The latter two take a noun or -ing.
used to
I used to read comics as a child, but I rarely do now.
Used to + base verb describes a past habit/state. Be used to means accustomed to; get used to means become accustomed to. The latter two take a noun or -ing.
taking
She has got used to taking the earlier bus. (take)
Used to + base verb describes a past habit/state. Be used to means accustomed to; get used to means become accustomed to. The latter two take a noun or -ing.
being
He was used to being alone before he moved in with friends. (be)
Used to + base verb describes a past habit/state. Be used to means accustomed to; get used to means become accustomed to. The latter two take a noun or -ing.
Write an original answer for each task. Review the guidance to check your work. These are self-review tasks, not automatic grammar grading.
Your wording can vary.
Use used to plus a base verb.
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Your wording can vary.
Use used to be, have or another suitable state verb.
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Your wording can vary.
Use Did you use to, with use after did.
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Your wording can vary.
Use did not use to in standard written English.
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Your wording can vary.
Use be used to plus a noun or -ing.
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Your wording can vary.
Use be getting used to plus a noun or -ing.
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Your wording can vary.
Use got used to or have got used to with a suitable time context.
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Your wording can vary.
Use used to do and am used to doing in separate sentences.
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To is a preposition here, so use waking.
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Your wording can vary.
Use will get used to plus the routine as a noun or -ing phrase.
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Print this lesson’s original questions with a separate answer key. Use the worksheet for another round without looking at the explanations.
Try these two tasks before opening the answers. They practise explanation and writing; they do not change your quiz score.
Repair: I am used to wake early.
I am used to waking early. Be used to describes familiarity and takes a noun or an -ing form. I used to wake early describes a former habit instead.
Describe a former routine and a new routine that is becoming familiar.
I used to study at night. I am getting used to studying before breakfast. The first looks back at a habit; the second describes adaptation.
Other wording may be correct. Compare the meaning and verb pattern, not just the words.
Organise verb patterns into useful groups.
Describe a change in your own routine with three sentences: an old habit, something now familiar, and something you are still adapting to. Check the verb form after each to.
I used to leave every task until evening. I am used to planning one task before breakfast now. I am still getting used to putting my phone away while I work. The first sentence takes a base verb; the other two take -ing forms.
Choose the time you have. These are suggested study plans, not timers.
Answer the ten-question quiz. Read the explanation for each mistake before trying again.
Take the scored quiz →30 MINComplete the warm-up, then sets 2 and 3. Compare your answers and correct the patterns you missed.
Open sentence practice →60 MINWork through all four sets. Spend the final part writing, comparing and improving your own sentences.
Explore all four sets →Open the question that matches where you got stuck.
Used to looks back at an old habit or state: “I used to work evenings.” Be used to describes familiarity: “I am used to working evenings.” Get used to describes adaptation: “I am getting used to working evenings.” Decide the meaning before choosing the form.
Here to is a preposition, followed by a noun or -ing form: “I am used to the routine” and “I am used to travelling early.” In “I used to travel early”, the pattern is different: used to takes the base verb travel.
For standard written English, choose “Did you use to…?” and “I did not use to…”. Did already marks the past. Keep used to in an affirmative statement: “I used to take that bus.”
Would can describe repeated past actions once a past context is clear: “During those summers, we would meet after lunch.” It is not a general replacement for a past state. To describe an old belief, write “I used to believe that”, rather than assuming would always means the same thing.
Further reference: British Council: different uses of used to. Padworth examples and activities are original.
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