Language of the Day: Used To
Today we’ll look at two different ways to use a very common English phrase!
“Used to” is a very commonly used phrasal verb that refers to actions and situations in the past which no longer happen or are no longer true. For example, “I used to play soccer when I was a kid.” This phrasal verb always refers to the past.
On the other hand, if we add a “be” verb + ‘used to’, such as am used to or were used to, it means to be accustomed to or to be familiar with, and it can refer to the past, present or future. For example, “I am used to the rain in Vancouver because I’ve lived here for many years.”
Here is an example with both meanings of ‘used to’ - “She is used to working long hours because she used to work in a hospital.”
Can you see the difference? Let’s look at more examples below!
Used to: actions and situations in the past which no longer happen or are no longer true.
“We used to live in Toronto, but rent was too expensive.”
“My computer screen used to freeze everyday until I got it fixed.”
“Did you know that she used to be an actress?”
“I used to drink coffee after dinner but now the caffeine affects my sleep.”
“He used to work from home but now he comes into the office twice a week.”
“I can’t believe people used to be allowed to smoke indoors!”
‘Be’ verb / get + used to: to be accustomed to or to be familiar with, and it can refer to the past, present or future
“It can take years to get used to speaking a new language.”
“I just moved to a big city and I’m not used to all the traffic!”
“University is very different from school, but don’t worry, you’ll get used to it soon.”
“The students are used to taking virtual classes because of the pandemic.”
“He is not used to living with roommates so there might be some challenges in the beginning.”
“My family is excited about seeing the snow for the first time, but we’re also worried because we’re not used to cold weather!”
