61. Be get used to something (I’m used to …) ENGLISH GRAMMAR IN USE FOR INTERMEDIATE

ENGLISH GRAMMAR IN USE FOR INTERMEDIATE

61. Be get used to something (I’m used to …)

A	Study this example situation: Lisa is American, but she lives in Britain. When she first drove a car in Britain, she found it very difficult because she had to drive on the left, not on the right. Driving on the left was strange and difficult for her because: She wasn't used to it. She wasn't used to driving on the left. But after a lot of practice, driving on the left became less strange. So: She got used to driving on the left. Now it’s no problem for Lisa: She is used to driving on the left.
B	I'm used to something= it is not new or strange for me: ·         Paul lives alone. He doesn't mind this because he has lived alone for 15 years. It is not strange for him. He is used to it. He is used to living alone. ·         I bought some new shoes. They felt a bit strange at first because I wasn't used to them. ·         Our new apartment is on a very busy street. I expect we'll get used to the noise, but at the moment it's very disturbing. ·         Helen has a new job. She has to get up much earlier now than before - at 6.30. She finds this difficult because she isn't used to getting up so early. ·         Katherine's husband is often away from home. She doesn't mind this. She is used to him being away.
C	After be/get used you cannot use the infinitive (to do /to drive etc.). We say: ·         She is used to driving on the left. (not She is used to drive) When we say ‘I am used to something', to is a preposition, not a part of the infinitive. So we say: ·         We're not used to the noise. /We're not used to it. ·         Paul is used to living alone. (not Paul is used to live) ·         Lisa had to get used to driving on the left. (not get used to drive)
D	Do not confuse I am used to doing and I used to do: I am used to (doing) something= it isn't strange or new for me: ·         I am used to the weather in this country. ·         I am used to driving on the left because I've lived in Britain a long time. I used to do something= I did it regularly in the past but no longer do it. You can use this only for the past, not for the present. (See Unit 18.) The structure is ‘I used to do' (not I am used to do): ·         I used to drive to work every day, but these days I usually go by bike. ·         We used to live just outside the town, but now we live near the centre.

EXERCISES

61.1	Look again at the situation in Section A on the opposite page ('Lisa is American ...'). The following situations are similar. Complete the sentences using used to. 1 Jack has to drive two hours to his work every morning. Many years ago, when he first had to do this, it was difficult for him. But now it’s OK. When jack started working in this job, he wasn't ____________driving two hours to work every morning, but after some time he ____________it. Now it's no problem for him. He ____________two hours every morning. 2 Julia is a nurse. A year ago she started working nights. At first she found it hard and didn't like it. She ____________nights and it took her a few months to ____________it. Now, after a year, it's OK for her. She ____________nights.
61.2	What do you say in these situations? Use I'm (not) used to .... 1 You live alone. You don't mind this. You have always lived alone. FRIEND     : Do you get lonely sometimes? YOU           : No, _____I’m used to living slone._____________ 2 You sleep on the floor. You don't mind this. You have always slept on the floor. FRIEND     : Wouldn't you prefer to sleep in a bed? YOU           : No, I _____________________________________ 3 You have to work long hours in your job. This is not a problem for you. You have always worked long hours. FRIEND       : You have to work very long hours in your job, don't you? YOU             : Yes, but I don't mind that. I_____________________________________ 4 You usually go to bed early. Last night you went to bed very late (for you) and as a result you are very tired this morning. FRIEND       : You look tired this morning. YOU             : Yes, _____________________________________
61.3	Read the situations and complete the sentences using get/got used to. 1 Some friends of yours have just moved into an apartment on a busy street. lt is very noisy. They'll have to ____get used to the noise ______________. 2 The children at school got a new teacher. She was different from the teacher before her, but this wasn't a problem for the children. They soon ____________________________. 3 Sue moved from a big house to a much smaller one. She found it strange at first. She had to ____________________________in a much smaller house. 4 Some people you know from Britain are going to live in your country. What will they have to get used to? They'll have to____________________________.
61.4	Complete the sentences using only one word each time (see Section C). 1 Lisa had to get used to ____driving_____on the left. 2 Dan used to _____________ a lot of coffee. Now he prefers tea 3 I feel very full after that meal. I'm not used to _____________ so much. 4 I wouldn't like to share an office. I'm used to _____________ my own office. 5 I used to _____________ a car, but I sold it a few months ago. 6 When we were children, we used to _____________ swimming very often. 7 There used to _____________ a school here, but it was knocked down a few years ago. 8 I'm the boss here! I'm not used to _____________ told what to do 9 We used to _____________ in a village. We moved to London a few years ago and had to get used to _____________ in a big city.

ANSWER KEY