Get used to
Watch four videos using the modal "get used to" in conversation.
Conversation 1
Man: How's the new job?
Woman: Good, but I’m still not
used to the long commute.
Man: Really, how long is it?
Woman: It’s three hours each
way.
Man: Give it time. You’ll get
used to it.
Woman: I’m not sure about that.
Conversation 2
Man: How is the new computer?
Woman: OK, but it’s hard
getting used to the new operating system.
Man: Yeah, but it should be
faster, right?
Woman: Wrong. I’m used to my
old keyboard shortcuts. These ones are
different.
Man: Yeah, but you’ll get used
to it in no time.
Woman: I guess. But for now,
it’s frustrating.
Conversation 3
Man: Have you ever worked
overseas?
Woman: Yeah, I worked in Japan
for two years.
Man: Oh, really? How was it?
Woman: Great, but it took
a while getting used to living there.
Man: Really? What was hard
getting used to?
Woman: Well, using chopsticks
for one. Also, knowing how to interact with
people.
Man: Wow, that does sound
difficult.
Woman: It was hard at first,
but I got used to it eventually.
Conversation 4
Man: How's the new baby?
Woman: Great! Life couldn’t be
better.
Man: How are you doing on
sleep?
Woman: Good. I only sleep a few
hours a night, but I'm getting used to it.
Man: I could never get used to that.
Woman: People say that, but
once you deal with it, it’s not that bad.
Man: Says you!
Get Used To
- I am used to living alone. (It is easy.)
- I am not used to living alone. (It is not easy.)
- I am getting used to waking up early. (It is becoming familiar.)
- I am not used to getting up early. (It is still not each to do.)
Point 2: The verb phrase has three parts:
Subject + be + used to + gerund
Subject + get + used to + gerund
Question
- Are you used to driving in the rain?
- Are you getting used to driving on the left side?
- Have you gotten used to working from home?
- Have you gotten used to studying at home?
Affirmative
- I am used to working at a desk.
- She is used to dealing with difficult people.
- I got used to living with a roommate.
- They quickly got used to living without hot water.
Negative
- They aren’t used to working together.
- He isn’t used to eating with chopsticks.
- She hasn’t gotten used to working from home.
- She is used to driving a large car.
Point 3: Be used to vs. Get used to - There is a slight difference in meaning between the two forms. The verbs ‘get’ means there was a change in familiarity. The verb ‘be’ refers to the feeling always existing.
- I was used to being teased as a kid. (It was always the situation.)
- I got used to being teased as a kid. (I learned how to deal with teasing.)
Present tense (be: am, is, are)
- I am used to working alone.
- I am not used to cooking for myself.
- She is used to feeling tired.
Continuous (getting)
- I am getting used to studying online.
- I was just getting used to having you around, and now you’re leaving!
Past (was, were, got)
- I was used to being picked last as a kid.
- I didn’t like it, but I got used to it.
Gerund (getting)
- I am having trouble getting used to it.
Perfect (gotten)
- I haven’t gotten used to wearing a suit at work.
- I’m used to living alone.
- I am slowly getting used to wearing a suit.
- She is used to being around kids.
- I’m still getting used to sharing my apartment with a roommate.
- Do you like working behind a desk?
1. No, but I am getting used to it. - I hate attending parties, but I am getting used to it.
- I loathed wearing a suit after college, but I got used to it.
- Living alone takes some time getting used
to.
- It takes some time getting used to living alone.
- Being criticized is something that he is not
used to.
- He is not used to being criticized.
- Driving at night took awhile getting used
to.
- It took awhile getting used to driving at night.
Gap Fill: Listen to the audio. Type in the correct word!