Be/Get Used To (I'm used to …)
Using be used to and get used to for things that are familiar or becoming familiar
What Does “Be Used To” Mean?
Be used to something means it is not new or strange for you. You have enough experience with it that it feels normal.
- I’ve worked night shifts for three years now. I’m used to working at night. (It doesn’t bother me any more.)
- The open-plan office was strange at first, but now I’m used to the noise.
- She just moved to Tokyo. She isn’t used to the crowded trains yet.
Be Used To vs. Get Used To
Be used to describes a state — something already feels normal.
Get used to describes a process — something is becoming normal over time.
| Structure | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| be used to | It already feels normal | He is used to giving presentations. |
| get used to | It is becoming normal (or needs to become normal) | She got used to the new software after a few weeks. |
- When Mark first became a manager, he wasn’t used to making decisions for the whole team. But after a few months, he got used to it.
- Our new office is in a noisy area. I expect we’ll get used to the traffic, but right now it’s distracting.
The Grammar: “To” Is a Preposition Here
After be used to and get used to, the word to is a preposition, not part of an infinitive. This means it must be followed by a noun or -ing form — never a bare infinitive.
| Correct | Wrong |
|---|---|
| I’m used to getting up early. | |
| She’s used to the cold weather. | |
| He can’t get used to working from home. |
You can also use a pronoun or noun after to:
- The long commute? Yes, I’m used to it.
- She’s used to her manager being away on business trips.
Be Used To (doing) vs. Used To (do)
These two structures look similar but have completely different meanings. Don’t mix them up.
| Structure | Meaning | Time | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| be used to + -ing/noun | Something feels normal, familiar | Present or any time | I am used to working overtime. |
| used to + infinitive | A past habit that no longer happens | Past only | I used to work overtime, but not any more. |
- I am used to commuting by train. (I do it regularly and it feels normal.)
- I used to commute by train. (I did it before, but I don’t any more.)
Compare these two sentences side by side:
- She is used to speaking in meetings. (She does it often; it feels normal to her.)
- She used to speak in meetings. (She spoke in meetings in the past, but she doesn’t now — maybe she changed roles.)
Quick Self-Check
I've lived near the airport for ten years now. I _____ the noise of the planes.
Select your answer:
When I started this job, I had to _____ the early mornings.
Select your answer:
She's been a team leader for years. She _____ decisions under pressure.
Select your answer:
I _____ drive to work every day, but now I cycle.
Select your answer:
The new accounting software is confusing, but I'm slowly _____ it.
Select your answer: