Used to
By Rob Lane
In this article we will look at some structures that include used to. Learners have difficulty with these structures, particularly to see the differences in function, and then in the application of structure.Because they are so similar in structure, you must take care with the to avoid confusion.
Structures and Function
Subject + used to + verb
Samuel used to be a mechanic. He used to repair cars.
Subject + be + used to + noun/ verb-ing
Damien is used to spicy food. He is used to eating spicy food.
Subject + Used to + Verb
Samuel used to be a mechanic. He used to repair cars.
This means that, in the past, Samuel was a mechanic but he is not now. In the past, he repaired cars but now he does not.
This structure is only used for the past.
It is used for states and actions which were repeated in past but which are not true today.
Would is also used with the same sense but only with action verbs.
During the 18th Century, British ships would sail/ used to sail from India to China.
Note: There is no equivalent for used to in present. The same type of states and actions are expressed in Present Simple. For the example above, we say: He is a mechanic, and he repairs cars.
Subject + be + used to + noun/ verb-ing
Damien is used to spicy food. He is used to eating spicy food.
This means that Damien has experience with spicy food, it is not new for him. He is accustomed to, or familiar with spicy food. Eating spicy food is not a problem for him.
The verb be can be changed to form this structure in any tense.
Used to functions like an adjective in this structure. Like with normal adjectives, the verb get can also be used: be for state, get or become for change.
Importantly, this structure does not tell us that an action happens, or is repeated but how the subject feels about the noun or action in abstract.
Ana comes from a hot country. She moved to Ireland. When she arrived she was not used to the cold climate (it was new/ uncomfortable for her). With each day that passed, she became more and more accustomed to the cold climate (she got used to it). Now, she is used to it (it’s no problem for her).
Also, she was not used to driving on the left side of the road. At first, this was new for her: it was stressful and she was not comfortable doing this. After a lot of practice, she has got used to driving on the left side of the road. Now, she is not stressed or uncomfortable driving on the left.
Note: because the verb-ing is a gerund, in this example, driving on the left is a noun.
Comparison
Christian used to work at night.
In the past, Christian worked at night. Now, he does not work at night.
Caroline is used to working at night.
Working at night is not a problem for Caroline; she has experience doing this, and so, it is now quite natural for her.
Ahmed used to speak English every day when he lived in Scotland.
He spoke English every day when he lived in Scotland. Now he lives elsewhere and no longer speaks English every day.
Erika is Italian. She has been living in Ireland for some years. She is used to speaking English.
She is comfortable speaking English because it has become familiar for her through her experience of speaking the language.
You Should
Write a text comparing your hometown and life when you were a child with today to practice the subject + used to + verb structure.
Write a text about a person who moves to a very different country. Write about what they were not used to when they arrived and how these things became more natural for them.
