Question 1

What does "get used to" mean?

Accepted Answer

"Get used to" means becoming comfortable or familiar with something new over time. It describes a process of adaptation — moving from something feeling strange to something feeling normal. "I am getting used to the food here" means the food was unfamiliar at first, but I am slowly starting to enjoy it. Once the process is complete, you can say "I got used to it" (past simple) or "I have got used to it" (present perfect). "Get used to" always involves change — there must be something new or different that the person is learning to accept. You can use it with -ing forms ("getting used to waking up early") or nouns ("getting used to the cold"). This structure is commonly tested in Cambridge B1 Preliminary examinations.

Question 2

What verb form follows "get used to"?

Accepted Answer

After "get used to," always use the -ing form (gerund) or a noun — never the base verb. "I am getting used to cooking" is correct. "I am getting used to cook" is wrong. This is because "to" in "get used to" is a preposition, and prepositions in English are always followed by nouns or -ing forms. Compare with "used to" (past habits), where "to" IS part of the infinitive and takes a base verb: "I used to cook every day." This difference catches many learners because the three structures — "used to," "be used to," and "get used to" — look very similar but follow different grammar rules. Remembering which "to" is a preposition helps you choose the correct verb form every time.

Question 3

How long does it take to "get used to" something?

Accepted Answer

In grammar, "get used to" describes the duration and progress of adaptation, but the actual time varies. You can use time expressions to show how long the process takes: "It took me a month to get used to the new schedule" or "She gradually got used to the noise." Common words that go with "get used to" include "eventually" (it will happen in the end), "gradually" (slowly over time), "quickly" (faster than expected), and "still" (the process is not finished): "I still haven't got used to the weather." If someone never adapts, you can say "I never got used to it" or "I couldn't get used to it." These time expressions make your English sound more natural and are useful in Cambridge B1 writing and speaking tasks.

Get Used To Exercises

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-ed vs -ing Adjectives

Conditionals

Present Perfect

Reported Speech

Passive Voice

Past Simple