USED TO, BE USED TO & GET USED TO
How to talk about habits, past situations and getting accustomed to things
These three expressions look very similar, but they have different meanings and grammatical structures. Let’s learn how to use them correctly, with examples and explanations in English and Spanish.
1. USED TO + INFINITIVE
Past habits and past situations
Meaning
We use USED TO + infinitive to talk about:
- Habits we had in the past but don’t have now.
- Situations or states that were true in the past but are no longer true.
En español:
Usamos USED TO + verbo en infinitivo para hablar de hábitos o situaciones del pasado que ya no son verdad en el presente.
It is similar to:
- Antes…
- Solía…
- Antes solía…
Structure
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative (+) | Subject + used to + verb | I used to smoke. |
| Negative (-) | Subject + didn’t use to + verb | I didn’t use to smoke. |
| Question (?) | Did + subject + use to + verb? | Did you use to smoke? |
Important: After didn’t and did, we write USE TO, not USED TO.
Examples
| English | Spanish |
|---|---|
| I used to play football. | Antes jugaba al fútbol. |
| She used to have long hair. | Antes tenía el pelo largo. |
| We used to live in London. | Antes vivíamos en Londres. |
| He didn’t use to like coffee. | Antes no le gustaba el café. |
| Did you use to play tennis? | ¿Antes jugabas al tenis? |
Remember!
USED TO = Antes hacía algo, pero ahora ya no.
I used to get up at 7 a.m.
(Antes me levantaba a las 7, pero ahora ya no.)
2. BE USED TO + NOUN / VERB-ING
Being accustomed to something
Meaning
We use BE USED TO when something is familiar or normal for us. We are accustomed to it.
En español:
Usamos BE USED TO para decir que estamos acostumbrados a algo. Algo nos resulta normal o familiar porque lo conocemos o lo hacemos habitualmente.
It is similar to:
- Estar acostumbrado/a a…
- Tener costumbre de…
Structure
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative (+) | Subject + am/is/are + used to + noun / verb-ing | I am used to waking up early. |
| Negative (-) | Subject + am/is/are + not + used to + noun / verb-ing | I am not used to waking up early. |
| Question (?) | Am/Is/Are + subject + used to + noun / verb-ing? | Are you used to waking up early? |
Important: After BE USED TO, we use a noun or a verb ending in -ING, NOT the infinitive.
Examples
| English | Spanish |
|---|---|
| I am used to cold weather. | Estoy acostumbrado/a al frío. |
| She is used to working at night. | Está acostumbrada a trabajar por la noche. |
| They are used to living alone. | Están acostumbrados a vivir solos. |
| I am not used to driving on the left. | No estoy acostumbrado/a a conducir por la izquierda. |
| Are you used to speaking English? | ¿Estás acostumbrado/a a hablar inglés? |
More examples in context
– I live in Barcelona, so I am used to traffic.
(Vivo en Barcelona, así que estoy acostumbrado/a al tráfico.)
– My brother works in a restaurant. He is used to working long hours.
(Mi hermano trabaja en un restaurante. Está acostumbrado a trabajar muchas horas.)
Remember!
BE USED TO = Estoy acostumbrado/a a algo.
I am used to getting up early.
(Estoy acostumbrado/a a levantarme temprano.)
3. GET USED TO + NOUN / VERB-ING
The process of becoming accustomed to something
Meaning
We use GET USED TO when we are becoming accustomed to something. It describes a process of adaptation.
En español:
Usamos GET USED TO cuando estamos en el proceso de acostumbrarnos a algo. Algo puede resultar extraño o difícil al principio, pero poco a poco se convierte en algo normal.
It is similar to:
- Acostumbrarse a…
- Ir acostumbrándose a…
Structure
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative (+) | Subject + get used to + noun / verb-ing | I am getting used to my new job. |
| Negative (-) | Subject + don’t/doesn’t + get used to + noun / verb-ing | I don’t get used to the noise. |
| Question (?) | Do/Does + subject + get used to + noun / verb-ing? | Are you getting used to your new job? |
Notice that GET USED TO can be used in different tenses:
- I am getting used to my new school. (Present continuous)
- I got used to living abroad. (Past simple)
- You will get used to the weather. (Future)
Examples
| English | Spanish |
|---|---|
| I am getting used to my new job. | Me estoy acostumbrando a mi nuevo trabajo. |
| She is getting used to living alone. | Se está acostumbrando a vivir sola. |
| You will get used to the food. | Te acostumbrarás a la comida. |
| It took me a month to get used to driving on the left. | Tardé un mes en acostumbrarme a conducir por la izquierda. |
| He can’t get used to waking up early. | No consigue acostumbrarse a levantarse temprano. |
Remember!
GET USED TO = Acostumbrarse a algo (el proceso).
I am getting used to living in a new city.
(Me estoy acostumbrando a vivir en una ciudad nueva.)
4. THE DIFFERENCE: USED TO vs BE USED TO vs GET USED TO
This is the most important part! Look at the following examples:
USED TO
Past habit – Something you did before.
I used to wake up at 10 a.m.
Antes me despertaba a las 10.
BE USED TO
Present situation – Something that is normal for you.
I am used to waking up at 6 a.m.
Estoy acostumbrado/a a despertarme a las 6.
GET USED TO
Process – Something you are adapting to.
I am getting used to waking up at 6 a.m.
Me estoy acostumbrando a despertarme a las 6.
Compare these three sentences
Imagine you start a new job and you have to wake up very early.
1. I used to wake up late.
- Antes me despertaba tarde.
- This was my habit in the past.
2. I am not used to waking up early.
- No estoy acostumbrado/a a despertarme temprano.
- Waking up early is not normal for me.
3. I am getting used to waking up early.
- Me estoy acostumbrando a despertarme temprano.
- I am adapting to this new routine.
5. COMMON MISTAKES
Pay attention to these common mistakes!
| Incorrect | Correct |
|---|---|
| I am used to wake up early. | I am used to waking up early. |
| I used to waking up early. | I used to wake up early. |
| I didn’t used to smoke. | I didn’t use to smoke. |
| She is getting used to work here. | She is getting used to working here. |
| I am use to the cold. | I am used to the cold. |
The golden rule:
- USED TO + infinitive (work, play, live…)
- BE USED TO + noun / verb-ing
- GET USED TO + noun / verb-ing
Remember that the word TO in BE USED TO and GET USED TO is a preposition, so it is followed by a noun or an -ING form.