Used To vs Be Used To Exercises
B1-B2 Level
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The verb form after "to" is the clearest difference. With "used to," the word "to" is part of the infinitive, so it takes a base verb: "used to eat," "used to work." With "be used to," the word "to" is a preposition, so it takes an -ing form or a noun: "used to eating," "used to the weather." A quick test: try replacing what follows "to" with a noun. If it works ("I'm used to the noise"), you need "be used to." If it doesn't ("I used to the noise" makes no sense), you need "used to" + base verb. This pair is one of the most commonly confused structures in English.
Quick Rule
used to + base verb (past habit/state) | be used to + -ing / noun (current familiarity)
- 1.I used to cycle to work, but now I take the bus. (past habit — no longer true)
- 2.She is used to studying late at night. (current comfort — feels normal)
- 3.We used to have a garden when we lived in the countryside. (past state)
- 4.He isn't used to speaking in public. (current discomfort — doesn't feel normal)
- 5.My parents used to travel a lot before they retired. (past habit that stopped)
All 20 questions
Choose between 'used to + infinitive' (past habit that ended) and 'be used to + gerund' (current familiarity). Watch the verb form carefully! Choose the correct form.
I _____ in London, but I moved to Paris in 2020. (used to live / am used to living)
After 10 years in Tokyo, she _____ Japanese food now. (is used to eating / used to eat)
He _____ smoke, but he quit five years ago. (used to / is used to)
I _____ early mornings now. I've worked the early shift for years. (am used to waking / used to wake)
They _____ a big garden when they lived in the countryside. (used to have / are used to having)
Working from home doesn't bother me. I _____ it. (used to work / am used to working)
My grandmother _____ walk 5 miles to school when she was young. (was used to / used to)
She _____ criticism because she's a public figure. (used to receive / is used to receiving)
I _____ hate vegetables, but I love them now. (am used to / used to)
Night nurses _____ working while everyone sleeps. (are used to working / used to work)
There _____ a park here, but they built a shopping centre. (was used to being / used to be)
Commuting two hours doesn't tire me anymore. I _____ it. (used to commute / am used to commuting)
She _____ be very shy, but now she's confident. (used to / is used to)
Living alone is easy for him. He _____ it. (is used to living / used to live)
We _____ go camping every summer when I was a child. (used to / were used to)
Professional chefs _____ working under pressure. (used to work / are used to working)
I _____ think English was boring, but now I enjoy it! (am used to / used to)
After teaching for 20 years, he _____ explaining things clearly. (used to explain / is used to explaining)
The building _____ be a hospital before it became a hotel. (used to / was used to)
The constant noise doesn't bother us. We _____ it. (used to hear / are used to hearing)
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