Key Difference

• “Used to” describes past habits or situations that no longer happen.
• “Be used to” describes being accustomed or comfortable with something.

1. “Used to” (Past Habit or State)

Meaning: “Used to” is used to talk about actions or states that were true in the past but are not true anymore.

Structure:

• Subject + used to + base verb
  (No “-ing” ending after “used to” in this structure!)

Examples:

• Actions:
  • “I used to play soccer every weekend.”
    (Playing soccer was a habit in the past, but it doesn’t happen anymore.)
  • “She used to walk to school.”
    (Walking to school was her routine in the past.)
• States:
  • “He used to be shy.”
    (In the past, he was shy, but now he isn’t.)
  • “We used to live in New York.”
    (Living in New York was a fact in the past, but it isn’t true now.)

Common Mistake:

• ❌ Incorrect: “I am used to play soccer every weekend.”
• ✅ Correct: “I used to play soccer every weekend.”

Pro Tip: Remember that “used to” only works for the past—it’s not used for current habits.

1. “Be Used to” (Being Accustomed to Something)

Meaning: “Be used to” means that someone is comfortable or familiar with something. It can refer to actions, things, or situations, and it applies to the present or past.

Structure:

• Subject + be + used to + verb-ing (or noun)
  (Here, “be” changes according to the subject: am, is, are, was, were.)

Examples:

• With Actions:
  • “I am used to waking up early.”
    (Waking up early is something I am comfortable with now.)
  • “They were used to driving long distances.”
    (Driving long distances was familiar to them.)
• With Things or Situations:
  • “She’s used to cold weather.”
    (Cold weather is normal or familiar to her.)
  • “He wasn’t used to spicy food.”
    (Spicy food was unfamiliar to him, and he might not have liked it.)

Common Mistake:

• ❌ Incorrect: “I am used to wake up early.”
• ✅ Correct: “I am used to waking up early.”

Pro Tip: When you use “be used to,” remember that you’re describing comfort with a situation. “Be used to” is not limited to the past and can describe the present or future.

Quick Comparison Table

Practice Time!

Fill in the blanks with the correct form (“used to” or “be used to”).

1. When I was young, I _______ eat ice cream every day.
2. She is _______ working long hours now.
3. He _______ go jogging every morning, but he stopped last year.
4. Are you _______ the cold weather here?

Answers:

1. used to
2. be used to
3. used to
4. used to