LEVEL 4

be / get used to (doing)

vs.
used to (do)

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A conflict used to exist between the farmers and the lions.
The Masai are used to lions attacking their livestock.
The lions got used to seeing the scarecrows.

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Be used to
We use be used to (doing) to talk about something that is or isn’t
familiar.

Alice is used to being

I’m not used to so
responsible - she looks
much homework.
after her little sister.
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get used to
We use get used to (doing) to talk about the process of something
becoming familiar.

I can’t get used to my new I didn’t like living in a city when I

smartphone. It’s really difficult to use moved here, but I’m getting used to it.

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Used to
We use used to (do) to talk about situations that were true in the past
but are not true anymore.

I used to live in London. People used to send more letters.

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GET IT RIGHT!
Did you used to be a cautious child?
Did you use to be a cautious child? 
I could never be used to living in a cold country.
I could never get used to living in a cold country.

My aunt lives in Australia so she gets used to hot weather.
My aunt lives in Australia so she is used to hot weather.

Jack can’t get used to wear a uniform for school
Jack can’t get used to wearing a uniform for school

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Language in action
Ben: Do you like living in Canada?
used to live in Spain where it was hot everyday. I
Kate: Not really. I _________
am not used
___________ to wearing lots of clothes every time I go out.
Ben: There must be something you like.
Kate: Well, I’m learning to ski. I found it really difficult at first, but I
am gettingtoused
_____________ it.
Ben: What do you miss most from Spain?
used to
Kate: I miss my friends. I ______________
am have lots
usedof friends, but I
don’t know anyone here. I ____ also not ____ to speaking English all
the time. I always spoke Spanishgetting
with my friends back home, but,
used
slowly, I am ___________ to it.
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Can you remember the rules?
• When we want to talk about something being normal or familiar, we can use the expression be
used to. We use get used to to refer to the process of something becoming normal or familiar.
I live in the city, so I’m used to all the noise.
It took him a while to get used to eating dinner early.

• These expressions are followed by a noun or the gerund (-ing) form of a verb.
I’m not really used to spicy food
They’re getting used to living in a small apartment.

• These expressions are not the same as used to. We use used to to refer to past habits or states
which are no longer true. used to is followed by an infinitive without to.
I used to love their music, but now I never listen to it.

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 Talk in pairs or groups.
When you were six years old what …
games
/p lay?
l i ke ? be / like?
look
s rea d ? hobbies / have?
bo o k
sports p i ke?
pets / lay?
m m es l
have? rog ra
TV p
Are you the same now? Why? Why not?
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 Work in pairs. Think of ideas to complete each sentence.
I rec
to e
fr o m Lo n d o n I use ntly got
ve d d a do
tl y m o I’m n to … g.
I recen a n d. o
in P o l I’m g t used
Krakow ettin to …
u se d t o… g us
ed to
I e d to…
u s …
I’m not s e d t o …
ge tti ng u
I’m I recently sta
g. rted a new s
r te d ru nni n I used to … chool.
I recently sta I’m not used
I used to … I’m getting u
to …
n o t u s e d t o… sed to …
I’m to …
n g u se d
I’m getti

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Acknowledgements
The authors and publishers acknowledge the following sources of copyright material and are grateful
for the permissions granted. While every effort has been made, it has not always been possible to
identify the sources of all the material used, or to trace all copyright holders. If any omissions are
brought to our notice, we will be happy to include the appropriate acknowledgements on reprinting
and in the next update to the digital edition, as applicable.

The publishers are grateful to the following for permission to reproduce copyright photographs and
material:
Slide 2 (L): ©Christina Krutz/Radius Images/Getty Images; Slide 2 (C): ©Delpixel/Shutterstock; Slide 2
(R): ©Martin Harvey/Gallo Images/Getty Images; Slide 3 (L): ©Jim Craigmyle/Corbis; Slide 3 (R):
©SimplyCreativePhotography/E+/Getty Images; Slide 4 (L): ©Geber 86/E+/Getty Images; Slide 4 (R):
©Diogo salles/Moment/Getty Images; Slide 5 (L): ©Global Warning Images/Alamy; Slide 5 (R): ©Paul
Maguire/Alamy Stock Photo;
Written by Emma Szlachta

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