English 24
November 23th
A little bit of GRAMMAR

After last week's little grammar spot on "I used to do", we thought that this week we'd give you a few handy hints on how to use be /get used to something.

§ Basically "I'm used to something" = it is not new or strange for me

So let's study this example situation:

Joanne is English but she has lived in Italy for 4 years. When she first drove a car in Italy, she found it difficult because she had to drive on the right instead of on the left.
Driving on the right was strange and difficult for her because she wasn't used to it. - She wasn't used to driving on the right.
However after a lot of practice, driving on the right became less strange - She got used to driving on the right
Now she has been driving on the right for 3 years, she has no problem with it. - She is used to driving on the right.

· Charlie lives alone he doesn't mind this because he has lived alone for 15 years. So he is used to it he is used to living alone.
· My new short haircut felt a bit strange at first, because I wasn't used to it.
· Our new house is near to Malpensa airport. I expect we'll eventually get used to the noise, but at the moment we find it horrendous.
· Paolo has a new job. He has to get up much earlier than before. He now gets up at 5.30 am. He finds this difficult at present because he isn't used to getting up so early.

2. V. Imp. Please note, we say "she is used to driving on the right" not "she is used to drive". The "to" in be/get used to is a preposition, not a part of the infinitive.
So we say Sarah is used to living alone (NOT is used to live); Joanne had to get used to driving on the left (NOT get used to drive).

3. Also do not confuse I am used to doing (be/get used to) with I used to do, from last week's grammar. They are different in structure and in meaning.
§ I am used to (doing) something = something isn't strange for me:
- I am used to the hot weather in this country;
- I am used to driving on the left because I've lived in Britain a long time.

§ I used to do something means only that I did something regularly in the past.
Remember you can't use this structure in the present. The structure is "I used to do" (not I am used to do):
- These days I usually stay in bed until late but when I had job I used to get up early.

Practice Exercises

1. Read the following situations and write 3 sentences with USED TO as in the following example.
Example: Jo is from Newcastle in England. She came to Italy and found driving on the right difficult.
a) At first she wasn't used to driving on the right.
b) But soon she got used to driving on the right.
c) Now she has no problems. She is used to driving on the right.

1. i. Paolo moved from the city centre to the countryside. He now has to commute to work for 1 and a half hours each morning, instead of the usual 15 minute car drive.
a) At first he wasn't ………………………………
b) But after some time he got………………………
c) Now he finds it quite normal. He………………………

1. ii. Christopher is a fireman. He started working shifts 3 years ago. At first he found it strange and he didn't like it very much.
a) At first he……………………………………
b) But after a while he ……………………………………
c) Now he quite enjoys shift work. He……………………

2.Now let's try writing sentences with be/get used to.
Example: Tommy the cat sleeps in a cat basket. He doesn't mind this. He has always slept in a cat basket. (He /used /sleep/ cat basket)
He is used to sleeping in a cat basket.

a) I moved from a big house to a small apartment. What did I have to get used to? (You had/used/live/smaller/home).
You had………………
b) David once went to Russia in the winter. But it was too cold for him.
(he/not/used/the cold) He …………………
c) Simon has lost his job again. This is not unusual, in fact it happens once a month. (He/used/lose/job) He………
d) Helen is Australian. She is coming to live in Italy. What will she have to get used to? She'll have to …………………

3. Now try putting the verb into the correct form, ing or infinitive (I am used to doing or I used to do). If you get into difficulties check out last week's grammar exercise on I used to do.
Examples:
§ Joanne had to get used to driving on the right.
§ Paolo used to play football but now he plays tennis.
a. When I was a child, I used to …….. Hop scotch every day at school. (play)
b. Anna used to ………………………… a lot of cider when she was a student. (drink)
c. It took me a long time to get used to ……… Robert Di Niro speak in Italian. (hear)
d. I used to …….. Charlie but now he gets on my nerves. (like)
e. You'll have to get used to ……. every day if you want to become a better runner. (train)
f. I'm not used to ……. orders from people, in my last job I was the boss. (take)

Answers

1. i. a) he wasn't used to commuting to work/driving for 1 and a half hours to get to work/taking 1 and a half hours to get to work.
b) he got used to commuting to work/the 1 and a half commute to work/driving for 1 and a half hours to get to work.
c) he is used to commuting to work etc.
1. ii. a) he wasn't used to working shifts
b) he got used to working shifts
c) he is used to working shifts

2. a) you had to get used to living in a smaller home
b)he wasn't used to the cold
c) he is used to losing his job
d) she'll have to get used to ………

3. a. play; b. drink; c. hearing; d. like; e. training; f. taking