Be used to
Be used to something
Be used to doing
Be used to is an expression. It is not a tense. If I say "I
am used to Thailand", it is like saying "I am accustomed to Thailand."
| EnglishClub.com Tip |
| Do not confuse be used
to with with the special construction used
to do. They have different meanings. |
How do we make be used to?
The structure is:
subject + be + used to + object
| |
subject |
main verb be |
(not) |
used to |
object |
| + |
I |
am |
|
used to |
horses. |
| - |
He |
is |
not |
used to |
horses. |
| We |
aren't |
used to |
horses. |
| ? |
Are |
you |
|
used to |
horses? |
If the object is a verb, we use the -ing form:
| |
subject |
main verb be |
(not) |
used to |
object verb+ing |
| + |
I |
am |
|
used to |
cooking. |
| - |
He |
is |
not |
used to |
cooking. |
| We |
aren't |
used to |
cooking. |
| ? |
Are |
you |
|
used to |
cooking. |
| EnglishClub.com Tip |
| Why do we use -ing
for a verb after be used to? Because we always use -ing for a
verb after a preposition - and the to is a preposition! |
How do we use be used to?
The be used to expression is for talking about something
that is familiar to us or easy for us. For example:
- I am used to driving on the left.
It means that it is not a problem for me to drive on the left of
the road. I am Japanese. In Japan, people drive on the left. Now I am living in
the USA where people drive on the right. Of course, I drive on the right in the
USA, but when I go to Japan it is easy for me to drive on the left because "I
am used to it".
Look at these examples.
- I am used to hard work.
- I am used to working hard.
- He is not used to New York.
- He isn't used to living in New York.
- Are you used to fast food?
- Are you used to eating quickly?
Be used to with other tenses
We can use be used to in any tense. We just conjugate the
verb be in the tense that we need. Look at these examples:
- When we lived in Bangkok, we were used to hot
weather.
- I have been used to snakes for a long time.
- You will soon be used to living alone.
Now check your understanding
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