Grammar Practice in Context - David Bolton, Noel Goodey 1997

37 Get used to/Be used to: I’m getting used to English weather

Quick reference

• We use get used to something or get used to doing something when we talk about the process of becoming accustomed to something. Something that was strange or unfamiliar, at first, becomes familiar and normal.

/ can’t get used to speaking English. (It’s still strange to me.)

I’m getting used to speaking English. (It’s becoming less strange.)

Eve got used to speaking English. (It isn’t a problem now.)

• We use be used to something or be used to doing something when we say that we are(n’t) or we were(n’t) accustomed to something.

I’m used to the job. They were used to an easy life. He wasn’t used to sleeping in a tent.

• Note the difference between the verbs used to and be used to.

I used to eat seafood. (= It was my habit in the past. I don’t do it now.)

I’m used to eating seafood. (= It's familiar, not strange to me.)

1 An American journalist from Washington has been living in London for six months. Some things he still finds strange, others he is accustomed to. Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the words given.

1 He sees police officers without guns every day. (seeing)

He ... police officers without guns.

2 He finds it normal that he gets free medical treatment. (used)

He ... free medical treatment.

3 He normally travels by public transport now. (is)

He ... travelling by public transport.

4 He still finds it strange to have a small refrigerator. (having)

He still ... a small refrigerator.

5 He still isn’t accustomed to living in a city centre. (used)

He still ... living in a city centre.

2 A month ago Maggie Sullivan won half a million pounds on the lottery. A journalist is interviewing her. Complete the text using forms of be used to or get used to + noun or -ing.

Journalist: (1) ... you ... (be) rich yet?

Maggie: No, not yet. I’m trying (2) ... all this money, but it isn’t easy.

Journalist: What’s the biggest problem?

Maggie: I (3) ... (get up) early when I had a job. That wasn’t difficult. Now I don’t have to go to work but I can’t (4) ... (stay) in bed till 9.00.

Journalist: (5) ... you ... (live) in this big house?

Maggie: Oh yes, that isn’t a problem. I soon (6) ... that. I don’t think I could ever (7) ... (live) in a small flat again. But I (8) ... ( be) so far from all my friends. And there’s another thing I’II never (9) ... I still look for bargains and special offers in the supermarket. I don't think I’ll ever (10) ... (spend) as much as I like in the shops.