“Used To” vs. “Be Used To”: What’s the Difference?

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The difference between “used to” and “be used to”

  • "Used to" refers to a past action, while "be used to" refers to a present state.
  • "Used to" is always followed by the base form of the verb, while "be used to" is followed by a noun, pronoun, or gerund.
  • "Used to" can express nostalgia or a longing for the past, while "be used to" describes familiarity or being accustomed to something.
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What is the definition of “used to” and “be used to”?

Used to
  • "Used to" refers to a past habit or action that is no longer true.
  • It often expresses nostalgia or a longing for the past.
  • It is always followed by the base form of the verb.
Be used to
  • "Be used to" refers to being familiar or accustomed to something.
  • It describes a present state of being.
  • It is followed by a noun, pronoun, or gerund.

Which is the more popular variant on the Internet?

“Used to” is the more popular variant on the web.
More popular
Used to
5,420,000,000 results on the web
Examples
  1. I used to live in Paris when I was a child.
  2. He used to be a smoker, but he quit last year.
  3. They used to study together every night for their exams.
Be used to
2,930,000,000 results on the web
Examples
  1. You will be used to waking up early in the morning by your second week of work.
  2. He is used to the cold weather and even wears shorts at this time of year.
  3. We are used to the long commute to work every day.
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