Easy Word | Luyện ngữ pháp


Luyện ngữ pháp - English Grammar in Use - Intermediate (Unit 61: Be/get used to something)


A

Study this example situation:

Lisa is American, but she lives in Britain. When she first drove a car in Britain, she found it very difficult because she had to drive on the left, not on the right. Driving on the left was strange and difficult for her because:

She wasn't used to it.
She wasn't used to driving on the left.

But after a lot of practice, driving on the left became less strange. So:
She got used to driving on the left.

Now ifs no problem for Lisa:
She is used to driving on the left.

B I'm used to something = it is not new or strange for me:
  • Paul lives alone. He doesn't mind this because he has lived alone for 15 years. It is not strange for him. He is used to it. He is used to living alone.
  • I bought some new shoes. They felt a bit strange at first because I wasn't used to them.
  • Our new apartment is on a very busy street. I expect we'll get used to the noise, but at the moment it's very disturbing.
  • Helen has a new job. She has to get up much earlier now than before - at 6.30. She finds this difficult because she isn't used to getting up so early.
  • Katherine's husband is often away from home. She doesn't mind this. She is used to him being away.
C After be/get used you cannot use the infinitive (to do / to drive etc.). We say:
  • She is used to driving on the left. (not She is used to drive)

When we say 'I am used to something', to is a preposition, not a part of the infinitive.
So we say:
  • We're not used to the noise. / We're not used to it.
  • Paul is used to living alone. (not Paul is used to live)
  • Lisa had to get used to driving on the left. (not get used to drive)
D

Do not confuse I am used to doing and I used to do:

am used to (doing) something = it isn't strange or new for me:
  • am used to the weather in this country.
  • am used to driving on the left because I've lived in Britain a long time.

I used to do something = I did it regularly in the past but no longer do it. You can use this only for the past, not for the present. (See Unit 18.)

The structure is 'I used to do' (not am used to do):
  • used to drive to work every day, but these days I usually go by bike.
  • We used to live just outside the town, but now we live near the centre.


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