Used to, would, be used to and get used to
Use used to or would for past habits that are no longer true. Use be used to or get used to + -ing for something that is normal for you, or is becoming normal.
How it works
- used to + base verb: a past habit or state that has changed: I used to live in Huế.
- would + base verb: a repeated past action, not a state: Every summer we would swim in the river. Not: I would live in Huế.
- Negative and question: didn't use to, did you use to (no d after did): I didn't use to like coffee.
- be used to + -ing or noun: it is normal for me: I'm used to getting up early.
- get used to + -ing or noun: it is becoming normal: I'm getting used to the cold.
- Present habits use the present simple, not use to: I usually walk to work.
Examples
I used to ride my bike to school, but now I take the bus.
On Sundays my grandmother would make bánh xèo for the whole family.
Nurses are used to working at night.
It took me months to get used to driving on the left in London.
Did you use to have long hair?
Common mistakes
Wrong: I
use todrink tea every morning.Right: I usually drink tea every morning.
Wrong: I'm used to
getup early.Right: I'm used to getting up early.
Wrong: When I was a child, I
wouldlive near the sea.Right: When I was a child, I used to live near the sea.
Wrong: I didn't
usedto like vegetables.Right: I didn't use to like vegetables.
Practice
1 of 16Fill the gap.
Level: EGP Past (used to, would for habits) and Verbs (be/get used to + -ing): used to + infinitive is A2–B1; would for repeated past actions and be/get used to + -ing are controlled at B2. Written for Gloss.