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Do the phrases “I used to” and “I am used to” have similar meanings?

Question

Do the phrases “I used to” and “I am used to” have similar meanings?  —  Asoka , Sri Lanka

Answer

I used to

In the structure “I used to…/ It used to…/ They used to…,” etc., used to is a verb. It describes things that happened or were true in the past, but don’t happen anymore. As you can see in these examples from the Learner’s Dictionary, the form of used to does not change, and it refers only to the past: 

• We used to go out more often. [=in the past we went out more often] 
• He never used to smoke. [=he never smoked in the past] 
• My grandmother said winters used to be harder here. 

I am used to

In the structure “I am used to…/ She is used to…/ We are used to…,” etc. used to is an adjective, and it means “familiar with” or “accustomed to.” As you can see in these examples from the Merriam-Webster Learner’s Dictionary, it can be used with verbs in the present, past, or future: 

• I’m not used to driving this car yet. [=I am not accustomed to driving this car]
• He is used to criticism. [=he is used to being criticized]  
• I’ve been out of school for so long that I’m not used to studying anymore.  
• She quickly got used to the warm weather. [=she quickly became accustomed – in the past]

If you are wondering why these two structures are used so differently, it might help to know that the first one, “I used to,” once meant “I am in the habit or custom of” doing something. From there, it’s not too hard to imagine that, “I am used to” came to mean “I am accustomed to.”

I hope this helps. 

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