“Used To Do Something” Vs. “Be Used To Doing Something”

When we say we are ‘used to’ something, it means that we are accustomed to it; it isn’t strange or uncomfortable for us, because we have experience with it. In this case, we’re talking about the present. For example:

~John lives in Texas, so he is used to very hot summers.

In this sentence, John has experienced hot summers for many years, so we can say he is ‘used to’ them; in other words, they’re not strange to him. It is a present condition.

For the above example, notice that we have put a noun after ‘used to.’ However, what do we do if we want to refer to an action? In that case, we need to use a gerund. We use a gerund because the word before it is a preposition (‘to’). For example:

~Patty is used to waking up early during the week.

~He can’t get used to having to call his boss every afternoon.

In all of the above examples, we were referring to present conditions and situations. But it’s also possible to use ‘used to’ when talking about a past habit. For example:

~When I was in college, I used to exercise more often.

~She used to play tennis a lot, but now she never does.

In both of these examples, we’re referring to a past habit or action that we no longer have or do. It is a condition that existed in the past, but not at present. Notice that when we use ‘used to’ in this way, we always follow it with a verb in the infinitive.

If you would like to practice what you’ve learned here, try the accompanying exercise!

A. Edstrom

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