This is to draw your attention on
the difference between two closely related structures: used
to do something and be
be used to (doing) something:
- You use used to do sth
to talk about something that happened regularly or was the case in
the past, but is not now: I used to smoke, but I gave up a couple
of years ago.
- Except in negatives and questions,
the correct form is used to: I used to go there every Saturday. To
form questions, use did: Did she use to have long hair? Note
that in negatives and interrogatives the correct spelling is use to,
not used to.
The negative form is usually didn't use to, but in BrE this is quite
informal and is not usually used in writing.
The negative form used not to (rather formal) and the question form
used you to
? (old-fashioned and very formal) are only used in
BrE, usually in writing.
- You use be used to sth/to doing
sth to talk about something that you are familiar with so that it no longer
seems new or strange to you: We're used to the noise from the traffic now.
I'm used to getting up early. You can also use get used to
sth: Don't worry you'll soon get used to his sense of humour.
I didn't think I could ever get used to living in a big city after
living in the country.
Click here to put this into practice