English uses a few modal expressions to talk about habits, routines, and adaptation, they are: used to, be used to, get used to and would. With them, we can describe past habits that are no longer true, present routines that feel normal, and the process of becoming accustomed to something new. Try this exercise:
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Infographic: used to, be used to, get used to and would
| Expression | Function | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Used to | Past habits or states | – I used to play basketball every weekend. – She used to live in Paris. |
| Be used to | Familiarity/comfort now | – I am used to waking up early. – He was used to the noise when he lived in the city. |
| Get used to | Adjustment process | – It took me weeks to get used to driving on the left. – She will get used to the new schedule soon. |
| Would | Repeated past actions | – Every summer, we would go fishing at the lake. – He would always bring flowers for her birthday. |
Modal Expressions for Habits
1. Used to
It focuses on something that was true in the past but has changed.
Structure: used to + base verb.
Examples:
They used to go to the beach every summer.
They didn’t use to stay long there.
Did you use to go to the beach on summer?
Practice making sentences with ‘used to’ here:
2. Be used to
It refers to familiarity or comfort with a situation or activity.
Structure: Be used to + noun/gerund.
Examples:
I’m used to waking up early every day.
I’m not used to drinking that much water.
Are you used to hot weather?
Practice making sentences with ‘be used to’ here:
3. Get used to
It shows a transition from unfamiliarity to familiarity.
Structure: Get used to + noun/gerund.
Examples:
I finally got used to the traffic here.
I haven’t got used to the food though, so spicy!
Have you already got used to eating that much spice?
4. Would
It shows something that was true in the past but has changed. However, it does not describe states, only repeated actions.
Structure: would + base verb.
For questions or negative sentences, use ‘used to’, asking question or forming negatives sentences with ‘would’ implies something different, not habit. Check Second Conditional.
Examples: When I was a child, I would play outside in the garden almost everyday.
Key Differences
Used to and Would
- ‘Used to’ can describe both past habits and states, whereas ‘would’ only describes past actions. Example:
- I used to have a dog. (state)
- We would walk to school every day. (action)
- ‘Would’ is often used when setting a nostalgic or storytelling tone, while ‘used to’ is more factual.
Be used to and Get used to
- ‘Be used to’ focuses on the result of being familiar with something, while ‘get used to’ focuses on the process of becoming familiar. Example:
- I am used to spicy food. (I am accustomed to it now.)
- He had to get used to spicy food when he moved to India. (It took time for him to adjust.)
Used to and Be used to
These are often confused because of similar phrasing, but their meanings differ completely. Example:
- She used to work late hours. (She did this in the past, but not anymore.)
- He is used to working late hours. (He is accustomed to it now.)
Modal Expressions of Habits – Exercises
Test-English | PerfectEnglish | Grammarism
Exercises on ‘Used to’ or ‘be used to’: LearnEnglishToday
Exercises on ‘Used to’ or ‘Be used to’ or ‘get used to’: EnglishPages | EslLounge | LearnEnglishToday | UsingEnglish1 | UsingEnglish2 |
Exercise on ‘Used to’ or ‘Would’: AnglaisFacile