be / get used to …
I’m used to doing · I’m getting used to it · I used to do — Complete Guide
be / get used to …
I’m used to doing · I’m getting used to it · I used to do — Guide Complet
Distinguish I’m used to doing (familiar now), I’m getting used to it (adapting) and I used to do (past habit no longer true) — three easy-to-confuse structures.
Distinguez I’m used to doing (familier maintenant), I’m getting used to it (en train de s’adapter) et I used to do (habitude passée révolue) — trois structures faciles à confondre.
be used to, get used to and used to do are three of the most commonly confused structures in English. The key difference: be used to describes a current state of familiarity; get used to describes the process of becoming familiar; and used to do (no “be”) describes a past habit that no longer exists. All three are covered in this unit with bilingual examples and exercises.
be used to, get used to et used to do sont trois des structures les plus souvent confondues en anglais. La différence clé : be used to décrit un état actuel de familiarité ; get used to décrit le processus d’adaptation ; et used to do (sans « be ») décrit une habitude passée qui n’existe plus. Les trois structures sont couvertes dans cette unité avec des exemples bilingues et des exercices.
be used to + -ing — Familiar / Accustomed
be used to + -ing — Familier / Habitué
I am used to something means that something is not strange or new for me — I have experienced it enough that it feels normal.
I am used to something signifie que quelque chose n’est pas étrange ou nouveau pour moi — je l’ai suffisamment vécu pour que cela me paraisse normal.
I am used to the noise. (noun)
I am used to living alone. (-ing verb)
She is used to getting up early. She does it every day.
The verb be can be in any tense:
Le verbe be peut être à n’importe quel temps :
| Tense | Example | Temps | Exemple |
|---|---|---|---|
| Present | I am used to working late. | Présent | I am used to working late. |
| Past | She was used to the long commute. | Passé | She was used to the long commute. |
| Negative | He isn’t used to being criticised. | Négatif | He isn’t used to being criticised. |
| Question | Are you used to the heat yet? | Question | Are you used to the heat yet? |
get used to + -ing — The Process of Adapting
get used to + -ing — Le Processus d’Adaptation
get used to means to become accustomed — it describes the process or change, not a fixed state. You can use it in the past (got used to), present (getting used to), or future (will get used to).
get used to signifie devenir habitué — cela décrit un processus ou un changement, non un état fixe. On peut l’utiliser au passé (got used to), au présent (getting used to) ou au futur (will get used to).
I got used to living here. (past — I adapted)
She’s getting used to the new schedule. (present — adapting now)
You’ll get used to it. (future — you will adapt)
🕐 Process — get used to
🕐 Processus — get used to
✓ State — be used to
✓ État — be used to
used to do — Past Habits & States
used to do — Habitudes et États Passés
I used to do (no ‘be’ or ‘get’) describes something that happened regularly in the past but no longer happens now. It can only refer to the past — there is no present form.
I used to do (sans « be » ni « get ») décrit quelque chose qui se passait régulièrement dans le passé mais qui n’arrive plus maintenant. Cette structure ne peut se référer qu’au passé — il n’existe pas de forme présente.
I used to smoke, but I gave up last year.
We used to live near the sea.
There used to be a cinema here.
Question form: Did you use to play chess? (not “used to” after did)
The three-way comparison at a glance:
Comparaison des trois structures :
| Structure | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| used to + base verb | Past habit / state (no longer true) | I used to cycle to work. |
| be used to + -ing | Familiar / accustomed (now) | I’m used to cycling everywhere. |
| get used to + -ing | Process of becoming accustomed | I got used to cycling in the rain. |
| Structure | Sens | Exemple |
| used to + base verb | Habitude / état passé (révolu) | I used to cycle to work. |
| be used to + -ing | Familier / habitué (maintenant) | I’m used to cycling everywhere. |
| get used to + -ing | Processus d’adaptation | I got used to cycling in the rain. |
Exercise 1 — Complete with the correct form of be used to
Exercice 1 — Complétez avec la bonne forme de be used to
Use the correct tense of be + used to + -ing / noun.
Utilisez le bon temps de be + used to + -ing / nom.
Exercise 2 — Complete with get used to in the correct tense
Exercice 2 — Complétez avec get used to au bon temps
Focus on the process of adapting — past, present or future.
Concentrez-vous sur le processus d’adaptation — passé, présent ou futur.
Exercise 3 — Choose: used to do, be used to or get used to
Exercice 3 — Choisissez : used to do, be used to ou get used to
Choose the correct structure and write the full form.
Choisissez la bonne structure et écrivez la forme complète.
Frequently Asked Questions — be/get used to
Questions fréquentes — be/get used to
I am used to describes a current state — something is familiar and no longer strange. I got used to describes the process of becoming familiar (in the past). Example: It was difficult at first, but I got used to it. Now I am used to it completely.
I am used to décrit un état actuel — quelque chose est familier et n’est plus étrange. I got used to décrit le processus d’adaptation (au passé). Exemple : It was difficult at first, but I got used to it. Now I am used to it completely.
In be/get used to, the word to is a preposition, not part of an infinitive. After prepositions in English, we always use the -ing form: ✓ I am used to working late. ✗ I am used to work late. Compare: I look forward to seeing you (same rule).
Dans be/get used to, le mot to est une préposition, et non une marque d’infinitif. Après une préposition, on utilise toujours la forme -ing : ✓ I am used to working late. ✗ I am used to work late.
They look similar but mean very different things. Used to do (no ‘be’) is a past tense structure that means something happened regularly before but doesn’t happen now: I used to cycle to work. Be used to doing means it’s familiar: I am used to cycling — it’s normal for me.
Ces deux structures se ressemblent mais ont des sens très différents. Used to do (sans « be ») est une structure au passé qui signifie que quelque chose se passait régulièrement avant mais plus maintenant. Be used to doing signifie que c’est familier : I am used to cycling — it’s normal for me.
Use Did + subject + use to (not “used to” after did): ✓ Did you use to play chess? ✗ Did you used to play chess? For the negative: I didn’t use to enjoy it.
Utilisez Did + sujet + use to (et non « used to » après did) : ✓ Did you use to play chess? ✗ Did you used to play chess? Pour la négation : I didn’t use to enjoy it.
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