Used To vs Be Used To Exercises

Used to and be used to look almost identical but have completely different meanings and grammar. Used to + base verb talks about the past — habits or states that no longer exist: "I used to smoke" means I smoked in the past but I have stopped. Be used to + -ing form talks about the present — things that feel normal or familiar right now: "I am used to smoking" would mean smoking is a normal part of my routine (not a recommended example!).

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.