“I USED TO”, “I GOT USED TO”, “I’M USED TO”: What’s the difference?!

Summary

In this video, Emma explains the differences between the phrases 'used to,' 'get used to,' and 'be used to.' She highlights how 'used to' refers to past repeated actions or routines, while 'get used to' is about becoming accustomed to something, whether in the past, present, or future. Emma also covers 'be used to,' which has a similar meaning to 'get used to.' With examples and explanations of grammar rules, this lesson clarifies how to use these phrases effectively in English. Viewers are encouraged to practice with additional resources on her website.

Takeaways

• 😀 'Used to' is used to talk about repeated actions or routines in the past.
• 📘 'Used to' is followed by the base form of a verb, e.g., 'I used to read books.'
• 🕰️ 'Get used to' can refer to the past, present, or future and indicates becoming accustomed to something.
• 🔄 'Get used to' is often followed by a verb in the gerund form (-ing), e.g., 'I got used to waking up early.'
• 🕰️ 'Get used to' can also be followed by a noun, indicating becoming familiar with something, e.g., 'I got used to the noise.'
• 🤔 'Be used to' has a similar meaning to 'get used to' and can also be used to indicate familiarity or being accustomed to something.
• 📝 'Be used to' can take different forms depending on the verb 'be' (am, is, are, etc.) and can be followed by a noun or gerund.
• 📚 'Used to' doesn't change the verb form to past tense, as 'used to' itself is already in the past tense.
• 🔔 'Get used to' can be used in various tenses, such as past ('got used to'), present ('am getting used to'), and future ('will get used to').
• 🌐 The video encourages visiting the website 'www.engvid.com' for a quiz and additional resources on this topic.

Q & A

What is the main topic of Emma's video?

The main topic of Emma's video is the difference between the phrases 'used to', 'get used to', and 'be used to' in the English language.

How does Emma describe the use of 'used to'?

Emma explains that 'used to' is used to talk about past habits or repeated actions that are no longer true.

What is the pronunciation difference Emma points out for 'used to'?

Emma emphasizes that despite the presence of 'ed', 'used to' is pronounced as one syllable, like 'use', not 'used'.

Can you explain the phrase 'get used to' as per Emma's explanation?

'Get used to' is used to describe the process of becoming accustomed or familiar with something that was initially strange or unusual.

What tense can 'get used to' be used in, according to the video?

'Get used to' can be used in the past, present, or future tense, depending on the context.

How does Emma demonstrate the use of 'used to' with examples?

Emma uses personal anecdotes such as listening to CDs in high school and wearing a mask during the coronavirus pandemic to demonstrate the use of 'used to'.

What is the grammatical structure that follows 'used to'?

The verb that follows 'used to' is in its base form, without any changes like -ing or past tense.

How does Emma differentiate 'get used to' from 'used to' in terms of verb form?

Emma clarifies that after 'get used to', the verb should be in the -ing form, indicating a continuous or ongoing process of becoming accustomed.

What is the meaning of 'be used to' as explained in the video?

'Be used to' has the same meaning as 'get used to', and it is used to express that someone is accustomed to something.

Can you provide an example of how Emma uses 'be used to' in the present tense?

Emma gives the example 'I am used to waking up at 6 a.m.' to show the use of 'be used to' in the present tense.

What additional resources does Emma recommend for English learners?

Emma recommends visiting www.engvid.com for quizzes and subscribing to her YouTube channel for more English learning videos. She also suggests visiting her website at www.teacheremma.com for more resources.

Outlines

00:00

📝 Understanding 'Used to', 'Get Used to', and 'Be Used to'

In this paragraph, Emma introduces herself and explains the purpose of the video: to clarify the differences between the phrases 'used to,' 'get used to,' and 'be used to.' She emphasizes that these phrases often confuse English learners because they appear similar but have distinct meanings. Emma begins by explaining 'used to,' which is commonly used to describe repeated actions or routines in the past. She highlights the pronunciation of 'used to,' noting that it sounds like one syllable. Emma then transitions to discussing 'get used to,' which can describe something becoming familiar or normal over time, applicable in the past, present, or future. Examples are used to illustrate how 'used to' and 'get used to' differ in meaning.

05:01

📚 Examples of 'Used to' and 'Get Used to'

This paragraph provides detailed examples of the phrases 'used to' and 'get used to' to highlight their differences. Emma shows how 'used to' is used with base form verbs to describe past habits or actions that no longer occur, such as listening to CDs or watching cartoons. She points out the formula for 'used to' plus a base verb and contrasts it with 'get used to,' which uses verbs ending in -ing (gerunds). Emma explains that 'get used to' describes the process of something becoming familiar or normal over time. She uses scenarios like adjusting to waking up early for work or adapting to a new job to further clarify the concept. The paragraph emphasizes the tense flexibility of 'get used to,' showing it can be used in past, present, or future contexts.

10:06

🔄 Explaining 'Be Used to' and Final Thoughts

Emma introduces 'be used to,' noting that it shares the same meaning as 'get used to'—becoming accustomed or familiar with something over time. She explains that the verb 'be' can take various forms (e.g., 'am,' 'is,' 'are'), and the structure is often followed by a noun, pronoun, or a gerund (verb ending in -ing). Examples provided include phrases like 'I'm used to it' and 'He is used to studying at night,' illustrating how these forms express familiarity with actions or situations. Emma wraps up by comparing the three phrases and encouraging viewers to practice the differences. She invites viewers to visit her website for additional resources and quizzes, highlighting ways to stay engaged and improve their understanding of English grammar.

Keywords

💡used to

The phrase 'used to' is used to describe past habits or actions that are no longer true. It indicates a repeated action or state in the past that has ceased. In the video, Emma uses the example 'I used to listen to CDs' to illustrate how 'used to' is followed by the base form of a verb, highlighting its application in discussing past routines or habits.

💡get used to

'Get used to' refers to the process of becoming accustomed to something that was initially unfamiliar or uncomfortable. It can be used in various tenses to indicate the ongoing nature of this adjustment. Emma provides the example 'I got used to wearing a mask during coronavirus' to demonstrate how 'get used to' is followed by a gerund (verb+ing), showing the transition from unfamiliarity to normalcy over time.

💡be used to

'Be used to' carries the same meaning as 'get used to', indicating a state of being accustomed to something. It is often used in the present tense to describe current familiarity with a situation or habit. Emma uses 'I am used to waking up at 6am' to show that 'be used to' can be followed by either a gerund or a noun, reflecting a current state of normalcy.

💡past tense

The term 'past tense' refers to the verb form used to describe actions or states that occurred in the past. In the context of the video, Emma explains that 'used to' is in the past tense, which is why the verbs that follow it are in their base form, not the past tense. This distinction is crucial for understanding the correct usage of 'used to'.

💡gerund

A 'gerund' is a verb form that ends in -ing and functions as a noun. In the video, Emma explains that after 'get used to' and 'be used to', a gerund is used, as in 'getting used to wearing a mask'. This grammatical concept is essential for understanding the structure of these phrases.

💡base form

The 'base form' of a verb is its simplest, uninflected form, typically used as the citation form of the verb. Emma emphasizes that after 'used to', verbs should be in their base form, as in 'I used to read this book', to indicate past habits or actions.

💡pronunciation

Pronunciation refers to the way words are articulated when spoken. Emma draws attention to the pronunciation of 'used to', noting that despite the presence of 'ed', it is pronounced as one syllable, like 'use', which is crucial for clear communication in English.

💡accustomed

To be 'accustomed' to something means to be familiar or comfortable with it through repeated exposure. Emma uses 'accustomed' interchangeably with 'used to' in the context of describing a state of being comfortable with a habit or situation, such as 'I got used to waking up at 6am'.

💡familiar

Being 'familiar' with something implies having knowledge or awareness of it through experience or exposure. In the video, Emma discusses how 'get used to' and 'be used to' are used to describe becoming familiar with something that was initially strange, like adjusting to a new job or living situation.

💡continuous tense

The 'continuous tense' is used to describe ongoing actions or states. Emma provides an example of the present continuous tense with 'getting used to', as in 'I am getting used to my new job', to illustrate the process of ongoing adjustment to a new situation.

Highlights

Introduction to the differences between 'used to', 'get used to', and 'be used to'.

Explanation of 'used to' for past repeated actions or routines.

Pronunciation tip for 'used to' as one syllable.

Definition of 'get used to' for becoming accustomed to something over time.

Usage of 'get used to' for past, present, or future contexts.

Example of 'used to' with listening to CDs in high school.

Example of 'get used to' with wearing masks during the coronavirus pandemic.

Grammar rule that 'used to' is followed by the base form of a verb.

Illustration of 'used to' with a formula: 'used to' + verb base form.

Difference between 'used to' and 'get used to' in terms of verb forms.

Example of 'get used to' with waking up early for work.

Explanation of gerunds and their use after 'get used to'.

Present tense example of 'get used to' with adjusting to a new job.

Future tense example of 'get used to' with moving to the city.

Introduction to 'be used to' and its similarity to 'get used to'.

Variety of 'be' verb forms that can be used with 'be used to'.

Example of 'be used to' with waking up early.

Example of 'be used to' with studying at night.

Encouragement to practice the differences between the phrases on www.engvid.com.

Invitation to subscribe to Emma's YouTube channel and website for more English resources.

Transcripts

Hi, everyone. My name is Emma, and in today's

video, I am going to teach you the difference

between "used to", "get used to", and "be used

to". Many learners have trouble with these

different phrases, and the reason is they are so

similar, but they have very different meanings.

So, let's get started by talking a little bit

about the difference between "used to" and "get

used to". Okay, when we talk about "used to",

this is the one you might already know. We use

"used to" to talk about the past. We use "used

to" to talk about something we did in the past.

Usually, it is a repeated action. This means

it happened more than once, or it was a routine

in the past. I also want you to pay close attention to my pronunciation. "Used to",

okay? So, even though there's an "ed", we're not pronouncing it like "used",

we're pronouncing it as one syllable as "use",

"used to". Okay, so now let's talk a little bit

about "get used to", and then I'm going to

give you some examples so you can understand

the differences between these two phrases.

So, "used to", we use to talk about the past.

"Get used to" can be used to talk about the past, the present, or the future.

We use "get used to" when we are talking

about something we have become accustomed to,

something we've become familiar with, something

that might have been strange at first,

but then it became normal. These types of

situations are when we use the phrase "get used

to". So, let's look at some examples. So, we'll

start with "used to". In the past, you see I have

the music symbols here. How do you think I used to

listen to music? Well, when I was in high school,

I used to listen to CDs. For those of you who are

really young, you might not know what a CD is,

so let me grab one for you. I have here my Guns

N' Roses CD. So, I used to use a CD player,

and I used to lie down on my bed and listen to Guns N' Roses. I'd listen to their CD.

So, that's how we use "used to". Now, you might

see here a funny picture. I'm not a great artist.

I'm a terrible artist, actually, but this is

supposed to be me, and that thing on my head,

that's a mask. So, during the coronavirus, at the

beginning, everyone had to start wearing masks

in my city, like this blue one. At first, it was

very strange. It felt uncomfortable. It was weird.

I was not used to it. But then, because I wore

the mask every day, it became normal for me.

I became accustomed to it. So, in this case,

what I can say is I got used to wearing a mask

during coronavirus. So, now we're going to look

at some more examples of the difference between

"used to" and "get used to" to really help

you understand the differences between these

different phrases. Okay, so now let's look at

some examples of "used to" and "get used to".

These examples will really show you the

difference in the meaning of these two phrases.

So, and actually, I have some things to show

off in order to demonstrate "used to". The first

sentence, "I used to read this book." What book am I talking about? Let me go grab it.

Okay, so this is a book from my childhood. I

used to love this book. It's called Mr. Bell's

Fix-It Shop. When I was a child, I used to read

this book. So, notice how we have "used to",

and then we have a verb, "read". Is there anything

strange about the verb "read", or do we have -ing

at the end? Do we do anything with this verb? No.

It's actually really simple. We keep this verb

in the base form. We don't do anything to it. "I used to read this book."

"When I was a child, I used to watch cartoons."

Now, I don't, really, because I don't have time,

but when I was a child, I used to watch cartoons.

Every Saturday morning, I used to watch cartoons.

So, again, I have my verb here, "used to", and then the verb that comes next, "watch",

is in its base form. We don't do anything to

it. We just use the base form of the verb,

nice and simple. Okay, this is a fact for you about me. "When I was in high school,

I used to have red hair." So, "I used to have

red hair." Again, we're talking about something

in the past that is not true now, and if you look at the verb I'm using, "have",

we are not putting it in the past tense. We're

using the base form of the verb. Why? Well,

"used to" is actually in the past tense, so we don't need to do anything to this verb.

It's just in the base form. So, if you like

math, maybe you like math more than English,

I have here our formula. We have "used to" plus

a verb, and that's how we talk about repeated

actions or routines in the past. So, now, this is very different from "get used to".

So, this is true. "When I was younger, I used

to wake up maybe 9am. I used to wake up late.

Now, for work, I have to wake up at 6am. I got

used to waking up at 6am." This means it's normal

for me. It's my habit. It's easy for me. "I

got used to waking up at 6am." So, it's normal.

What do you notice about the verb here? You might notice that after "used to",

the verb ends in -ing. Another way to say this is we use a gerund after "used to".

Gerund is the fancy grammar way of saying a verb with -ing.

And this is in the past tense. How do we know? Well, instead of using "get",

I'm using the past tense verb here, "got". So, "used to" stays the same, but our verb

"get" becomes "got" in the past tense. Okay, let's look at the present tense.

"I am getting used to my new job. I started

a new job recently. At first, it was strange.

I didn't know anyone. I didn't know where

things were, but now, after a couple of weeks,

things are becoming normal for me. So, I can say, "I am getting used to my new job."

So, you may notice that we have "getting", "am

getting used to". In this case, we're using the

present continuous tense. You can use any tense

with "get". This is just one example. And again,

the meaning here is that things used to be

strange at the beginning, but now they're normal.

"I'm accustomed to my new job." And again, you'll notice we have "ing", or sorry,

in this case, we don't actually have a second verb. We actually have

a noun. So, after "get used to", you can have

a verb with "ing" or you can have a noun.

You have a choice. Let's look at another example of "get used to".

This time, we'll use this in the future. "I will get used to living in the city."

So, maybe, as an example, my cousin lives in the countryside and she plans to move

to the city. She might say, "I will get used to living in the city."

So, again, we have "will", this just means

we're talking about the future, "get used to",

and then we have a verb here, "living". The verb

after "get used to" ends in "ing". This means that

in the future, my cousin thinks things will

be very strange at first, moving to the city,

but eventually, it will become normal for her.

She'll become accustomed to living in a city.

So, here is the math formula for "get used to".

So, actually, I'm going to add the word "get" here.

"Get used to" plus verb "ing". Okay? So, that's how these are different.

This, the base form of the verb follows, whereas

in this case, verb with "ing" is what comes after

"get used to". So, now we are going to find out

about "be used to". Okay, so we've talked about

"used to" and we've talked about "get used to".

What about "be used to"? What does that mean?

Well, the nice thing is "be used to" actually has

the same meaning as "get used to". So, I'm going

to just draw an arrow because you can use either

of these, "be used to" or "get used to". So,

I'm going to give some examples of "be used to".

Again, "get used to" and "be used to" mean to

become accustomed to something, to become

familiar with something when something is strange

or unusual, but then it becomes normal. That's when we use these words.

So, our verb "be" can take many forms. I'm

going to show you some of the forms it can take.

We have "I'm used to" or "I am used to". In this case, "am" is a form of the "be" verb,

and notice we have "used to", "I'm used to",

and what follows "used to"? We have "it". So,

similarly to "get used to", "be used to" can be followed by a noun or a pronoun.

Let's look at another example. "You are used to

waking up at 6 a.m." So, we have here our "be"

verb. In this case, in the simple present tense,

it's "are". We have "used to", and then we have

a verb, "waking up". "Waking up", you'll notice,

ends in -ing. So, it's similar to "get used to".

Verbs we use with "be used to" end in -ing,

or we can say they end in a gerund. A gerund

is a verb that ends in -ing. Okay, let's look at

another example. "He is used to studying at night."

So, this means this man, "he", he is accustomed

to studying at night. It's normal for him.

"He is used to studying at night." So, we have

here our "be" verb, "is", then we have "used to",

and then we have another verb, "studying". You'll notice it ends in -ing. So, again,

when a verb comes after "be used to", it ends

in -ing. Okay, so these are just some examples,

and again, these are the same. "Used to" is the

one that is different. So, thank you for watching

this video. I hope you've enjoyed it. It might

take some time to get used to the differences

between "used to" and "get used to" and "be used

to". If you want to practice this, I recommend

coming and visiting our website at www.engvid.com.

There, you can find a quiz about this material.

You can also subscribe to my YouTube channel.

Don't forget to ring the bell. By subscribing,

you will see a lot more videos on grammar, pronunciation, vocabulary, and many other

topics of English. You can also check out my website at www.teacheremma.com,

and there you can find more English resources.

Thanks so much for watching, and until next time,

take care.