Pre-existing concepts 

Be used to

Used to talk about things we are already accustomed to. They are normal and not strange for us.

Structure:

Affirmative:
Subject + be (am/is/are/was/were/will be) + used to + noun / verb -ing + complement.

Example:
"I am used to waking up early."

Negative:
Subject + be + not + used to + noun / verb -ing + complement.

Example:
"I am not used to waking up early."

Interrogative:
Be + subject + used to + noun / verb -ing + complement?

Example:
"Are you used to waking up early?"

Get used to

Used to talk about the process of becoming accustomed to something that was new or strange.

Structure:

Affirmative:
Subject + get (in the required tense) + used to + noun / verb -ing + complement.

Example:
"I am getting used to waking up early."

Negative:
Subject + do/does/did not + get used to + noun / verb -ing + complement.

Example:
"I didn’t get used to waking up early."

Interrogative:
Do/Does/Did + subject + get used to + noun / verb -ing + complement?

Example:
"Did you get used to waking up early?"

Be used to

When to use it:

Accustomed situations:
When something feels normal or familiar.

Example:
"I'm used to studying at night."

Stable habits or conditions:
To express comfort with a routine.

Example:
"They are used to the cold weather."

Get used to

It is used to show the process of adapting to something new.

When to use it:

Adjustment process:
When something was strange but is becoming normal.

Example:
"She is getting used to her new job."

Change over time:
To show gradual adaptation.

Example:
"I got used to driving on the left."

Usage in different tenses

Present

Be used to:
"He is used to working late."

Get used to:
"He is getting used to working late."

Past

Be used to:
"They were used to the noise."

Get used to:
"They got used to the noise."

Future

Be used to:
"I will be used to the routine soon."

Get used to:
"I will get used to the routine."

Tips to Remember

Ask Yourself:
Is it already normal or is the person still adapting?

✅ If it is already normal → be used to
✅ If it is a process → get used to

Important

Always use:

• noun → the noise, the weather

• OR verb + ing → working, studying
  
  

Incorrect: I'm used to drive
Correct: I'm used to driving

Let's watch a video!

Practice exercises

Pre-existing concepts 

GET ('Become' or 'Start to Be')

Used to describe a transition or process where a person or thing moves from one state to another. It emphasizes the change itself.

Structure (in Present Continuous for an ongoing change):

• Affirmative: Subject + to be + getting + adjective/comparative

Example: "It is getting dark."

• Negative: Subject + to be + not getting + adjective/comparative

Example: "The situation is not getting any better."

• Interrogative: To be + subject + getting + adjective/comparative?

Example: "Are you getting nervous?"

Specific time Example:

"I was cold, but now I'm getting warm." (I am in the process of becoming warm.)

GET + Past Participle ('Experience a Change in Circumstances')

Used in certain common, often idiomatic, expressions to show that a circumstance, status, or situation has changed.

Structure (in Past Simple for a completed change):

• Affirmative: Subject + got + past participle + complement.

Example: "They got married in 2020."

• Negative: Subject + did not get + past participle + complement.

Example: "She didn't get invited to the party."

• Interrogative: Did + subject + get + past participle + complement?

Example: "Did he get promoted?"

Example of an action completed (circumstance changed):

"He slipped and got injured." (He moved from an uninjured state to an injured state.)

GET + Adjective/Comparative

When to use it:

• Process of Change: To focus on the ongoing action of a state changing, often used with the Present Continuous tense.

Example: "My Spanish is getting better." (It is improving over time.)

• Expressing Emotion/State Transition: Commonly used for describing how someone feels or their transition into a state.

Example: "I get excited when I travel."

• Meaning 'Become': In almost all cases where 'become' can be used, 'get' is a more common and informal substitute.

Example: "She was sad, but then she got happier."

GET + Past Participle

It is used to indicate a change in a person's status or condition, often related to common life events or passive events.

When to use it:

• Life Events/Statuses: Used for common expressions related to social or relationship status.

Examples: "get married, get divorced, get engaged."

• Events/Actions that 'Happen To' Someone (Passive meaning): Often used to mean 'be' + past participle, but emphasizes the action or process of receiving the action.

Examples: "get hurt, get fired, get caught, get dressed."

• Meaning 'Receive' or 'Obtain': In some cases, the past participle acts as a description of what was received.

Example: "I got invited to the wedding." (I received an invitation.)

👀Tips to Remember💯

Ask Yourself: Am I describing a state I am moving into (Adjective) or an event that changed my status (Past Participle)?

• Get + Adjective: Focuses on the quality or state (e.g., get cold, get old, get tired).

Example: "The children got bored." (They became bored.)

• Get + Past Participle: Focuses on the action/event that caused the change in status (e.g., get injured, get lost, get broken).

Example: "The glass got broken." (The action of breaking happened to the glass.)

Practice exercises