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Camping in a tentUsed to / be used to

A former habit vs. accustoming to a new habit

 

 

 

 

Former Habit vs. Accustomed Activity
USED TO BE USED TO

Use used to for a former habit; something that you no longer do.  (used to + verb)

Use be used to for something that you are accustomed to; are familiar with and accept as normal.  (be used to + verb-ing). Also, in Amer. Engl  get used to  (become accustomed gradually).

We used to go camping every spring.  We would go camping every spring.

We are used to going camping every spring.  (We do it often.)

We used to wake up early to go fishing.  We would get up early to sleep.

We got used to waking up early to go fishing.  (We get up early habitually.) 

We used to tell stories before bedtime.  We would tell stories ....

We were used to telling stories before bedtime.  (We told them often.)

 

 

Used to

Used to is used as an auxiliary verb and is followed by a verb.
 

TIME FRAME EXAMPLES


  PAST


We used to play football after school.  (We don't anymore.)

I used to spend a lot of time in cafe with my friends. (I don't anymore.)

My dog used to be aggressive, but he's a mellower now.

See Past Habits  (would vs. used to)   

 

 

Be used to

Be used to is a verb + preposition that is followed by a noun, a noun phrase or a gerund clause.
 

TIME FRAME EXAMPLES

 
PRESENT


We are used to hard work.

 FUTURE

We will get used to working hard.  ("get" is mostly  used in the future and means "become")

 PAST

We were used to long hours at work.

We got used to long hours at work. (get  means to become, gradually changing)
We became used to the long hours at work.

 

 

 

Common Mistakes
ERROR FIX

We are used to go camping every spring.

 

We used to go camping every spring. (We would go camping ...)

We are used to going camping every spring. (It is a family custom.)

Solution - lightbulbPop-Q "Used to"

 

 

 

 

family dinnerPractice

Family Time 

 

 

 

 

  1. Select the response from the menu that best completes the sentence.
  2. Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check" button to the right.

 

# YOUR RESPONSE FEEDBACK
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extended = family plus aunts, uncles, grandparents and cousins
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