English learners often confuse used to, be used to and get used to. And that makes a lot of sense! They sound almost exactly the same, after all.

But they actually have very different functions in the English language. So, how do we use them, and what’s the difference? 

The difference between used to, be used, and get used to is:

1. Used to is a verb we use to talk about something that happened in the past that doesn’t happen anymore. We always use it in the past tense.

2. Be/get used to is an adjective that means we are so familiar with something that is seems normal or usual. Just as with any adjective, we can use the verb be or get before it.

There are a few more subtle differences and common mistakes that we’re going to talk about today. We’ll talk about:

• Used To: Usage and Structure

• Be Used To and Get Used To: Usage and Structure

• Common Mistakes to Avoid

Then you’ll have the opportunity to practice and test your knowledge with a couple of practice exercises and a writing prompt. So, if you’re ready to dive into the differences between these two phrases, let’s get started!

The Difference Between Used to, Be Used TO and Get used to

How to Use Used To

Used to actually functions as a modal verb. We use modal verbs such as can, could, would, or should to talk about things such as ability, probability, suggestion, advice, or obligation, to name a few. 

Used to is a modal verb that we specifically use to talk about habits we had in the past. So, because it functions as a modal verb, we always put used to with a base verb. Here’s the basic structure:

Structure

• Subject + used to + base verb + . . .

Examples

• He used to work here.

• She used to run every day.

• We used to be good friends.

Keep in mind that we never change the base verb that comes after used to.

Examples

• He used to work here.

• He used to working here. 

• She used to run every day.

• She used to running every day.