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English Grammar: Be Used To

Posted on September 21, 2010 by Melanie

English Grammar: Be Used To

September 21, 2010 by Melanie

English Grammar: Be Used to (something) | English Teacher Melanie

be used to + object (something, doing something)

= something that is familiar to you; it’s not new or unusual
= something that is easy for you to do because you’ve done it so many times or for so long

 

Example sentences:

Jane is used to her teenage son’s strange behaviour.

I just moved to London. I‘m not used to driving on the left-hand side of the road.

 

Important!

*be used to CANNOT be followed by a verb in the base form:
X: I am used to live alone.

*used in this expression is an adjective, not a verb:
– to is a preposition, not part of the infinitive form of the verb (‘to live’)
– When to is a preposition and part of a combination, it’s OK to use a gerund after it

*be used to is NOT the same as used to!
More example sentences:

A: How can you stand that all that noise from the construction site next door?
B: I’m used to it. They’ve been working on that building for 6 months!

He’s really nervous about making a speech in front of so many people. He‘s not used to speaking to such a large audience!

A: Aren’t you lonely living in that big house by yourself?
B: Not really. I‘m used to living alone. I’ve lived alone for the past 4 years!

Karen is really struggling! She has to get up at 5:30am for her new job and she‘s not used to getting up so early!

How do you like living in Australia? Are you used to the hot weather?

I went to the gym last night for the first time in months. My whole body is sore now! I’m not used to working out.

 

Filed Under: Blog, Grammar Tagged With: verbs

Comments

  1. Kate says

    October 6, 2010 at 4:37 am

    Hello, Melanie! Now I’m going to make an attempt to be correct in uses of set expressions with “used to” 🙂

    I used to doubt what set expression with “used to” to choose. Now I understand well the difference in “used to / be used to / get used to”. Your lesson and several pod casts on YouTube have given me a final push to complete understanding the issue. Thank you!

    I’ve join to your subscribers recently. Also we’re in connection on YouTube, my nick there is TheBestSea. Now I want to get used to reading your blog regularly 🙂

  2. carlos says

    October 8, 2012 at 10:31 pm

    hey melanie..

    yeahh i also believe english is a ridicolous and strange language. but i love it as it is. time i dont read a so cleaaaar blog. spanish is my native language. btw im from peru. your lessons are really helpful, and be sure we learn from them. keep as you r doing. god blesses you. regards .melanie.

    carlos

  3. pea says

    June 7, 2013 at 11:47 am

    Thanks

Posted in Blog, GrammarTagged Blog, Grammar

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