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English Grammar: Get Used To

Posted on September 28, 2010 by Melanie

English Grammar: Get Used To

September 28, 2010 by Melanie

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

get used to

= to become more familiar with something or doing something
= the act of becoming used to something (or doing something)
= something is not as strange or unfamiliar as it used to be, you have gained more experience

 

get used to + object (something, doing something)

He’s lived with her for many years, so he’s gotten used to her strange behaviour.

I was uncomfortable at first, but I got used to speaking in public.

 
More example sentences:

When he first moved to Scotland, it was difficult to understand what everyone was saying because their accent was so strong. Eventually he got used to it.

Are you fed up with traffic jams downtown? Get used to it! More people moving into Toronto means more cars on the road.

I went to Australia during one of the hottest summers ever! I couldn’t get used to the intense heat. It doesn’t get that hot in Canada!

When you move to London, you’ll have to get used to driving on the left-hand side of the road!

She‘s getting used to waking up while it’s still dark out.

 
This is the third article in the ‘used to’ series. Be sure not to confue ‘get used to’ with …
used To
be Used To

 
NOTES:
– used to is ALWAYS followed by the base form of a verb:

I used to work.

– HOWEVER, the gerund form of a verb is used after be used to and get used to. The base form of a verb is NEVER used after be used to or get used to.
X: I am used to work late
CORRECT: I am used to working late

– used to can only be used in the simple past tense; be used to and get used to can be use in all tenses.

 
Compare:
I used to work at clothing store. It was difficult at first because I wasn’t used to meeting a daily target and I wasn’t used to dealing with so many rude people. After awhile, I got used to it.

 

Filed Under: Blog, Grammar Tagged With: verbs

Comments

  1. Kátia says

    September 30, 2010 at 7:37 pm

    Hi, Melanie!
    Thanks for all your lessons and perfect explanations. As always, I learn a lot with you.
    I really appreciate your website. It’s becoming better and better. Well done!
    Kátia.

  2. Patricia says

    May 15, 2013 at 3:26 am

    Hi Melanie, thank you very much for your lessons…I´m from Brazil, but I live in Germany…I have a lot of fun to learn English with you!! For me you are the Best!!!!!

  3. mitchy says

    July 2, 2013 at 4:05 pm

    Hi. wow I really like it. was helpful. thanks a lot

  4. Lizbeth says

    September 4, 2013 at 4:53 pm

    Hello Melanie, I would like you to ask a question. Can I say the following?:
    I get used to cleaning my house everyday. (the tense of the verb Get in simple present?

    or Should I say?:

    I got used to cleaning my house everyday?

    Thank you very much in advance for your help.

    • Melanie says

      September 8, 2013 at 1:50 pm

      Hi, Lizbeth!

      You can say,
      “I got used to cleaning my house every day.” (At some point in the past, you got used to doing this.)

      “I am getting used to cleaning my house every day.” (You are in the process of getting used to it.)

      ‘Get used to’ can be used in all tenses, but if you want to say that it is happening now, or you are getting used to something NOW, use the present continuous.

      You can also say,
      “I am used to cleaning my house every day.”

      = )

  5. Achan Malaka says

    March 27, 2014 at 6:32 am

    the lesson is always super 🙂

  6. Dolores says

    May 11, 2014 at 2:17 pm

    Is it “I CAN get used to this…” or “I COULD get used used to this…”

    • Melanie says

      May 12, 2014 at 2:58 pm

      Both are correct!

  7. Mubashir Ababaki says

    May 20, 2014 at 4:54 pm

    Thank you very much it was really helpfull

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