Used to, Be used to, Get used to: Understanding the Difference (and Never Making Mistakes on the TOEIC® Again)
Flow Exam team
"Used to do" and "be used to doing" create one of the most frequent points of confusion in English.
The first expresses a past habit that no longer exists today. The second expresses a current routine to which one is accustomed.
In the TOEIC®, this distinction appears mainly in Parts 5 and 6, where a single word can completely change the meaning of the sentence.
The main trap? Both structures contain "used to," but they have nothing to do with each other.
The Two Structures: Essential Differences
Used to + Base Verb (Past Habit)
This structure describes an action that was repeated in the past. It no longer occurs now.
Structure:
- Affirmative: subject + used to + base verb
- Negative: subject + didn't use to + base verb
- Interrogative: did + subject + use to + base verb ?
TOEIC® Example:
- "The company used to hold weekly meetings, but now they meet monthly."
When to Use It:
- Completed past habits
- Past states that have changed
- Past/present comparisons
Be used to + -ING (Current Habit/Familiarity)
This structure means "to be accustomed to something" that exists now.
Structure:
- Affirmative: subject + be (conjugated) + used to + -ING verb / noun
- Negative: subject + be + not + used to + -ING verb / noun
- Interrogative: be + subject + used to + -ING verb / noun ?
TOEIC® Example:
- "After six months abroad, Sarah is used to working with international clients."
When to Use It:
- Adapting to a present situation
- Being familiar with a current activity
- Being comfortable with a practice
Quick Comparison Table
| Element | Used to + verb | Be used to + -ING |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Former past habit | Current habit, being accustomed to |
| Tense | Always in the past | All tenses possible |
| After « to » | Base verb | -ING verb or noun |
| Negation | didn't use to | be + not + used to |
| Question | did + use to | be + used to |
Common Traps in Part 5
Trap 1: Confusing the forms after « to »
The most frequent trap on the TOEIC®: choosing between the base verb and the -ING form.
Typical Error:
- "I used to working late every night." -> Incorrect
- "I used to work late every night." -> Correct
- "She's used to work under pressure." -> Incorrect
- "She's used to working under pressure." -> Correct
Action to Take: If you see "be" (am/is/are/was/were) before "used to," the following verb must always take the -ING form.
Trap 2: Forgetting that « used to » (past habit) is not conjugated
"Used to" for past habits remains the same, regardless of the person.
- "He uses to travel frequently for business." -> Incorrect
- "He used to travel frequently for business." -> Correct
Remember: This structure only exists in the past. For the present, use the simple present.
Trap 3: Negation and Interrogation
Many test-takers forget that "used" loses its -d in the negative and interrogative forms using "did."-
| Form | Correct | Incorrect |
|---|---|---|
| Negative | I didn't use to work here | I didn't used to work here |
| Question | Did you use to live abroad? | Did you used to live abroad? |
And what's more, this is where many get caught out. Based on our experience with candidates we coach, this mistake appears in about one out of every three questions on this topic.
The reason: candidates focus so much on "used to" that they forget the basic rule regarding the auxiliary verb "did."
Get used to: The Third Structure You Need to Know
There is also "get used to + -ING," which is less common but appears on the TOEIC®.
Difference with « be used to »:
- Be used to: State, you are already accustomed
- Get used to: Process, you are in the process of becoming accustomed
Comparative Examples:
- "After two years in Tokyo, Mark is used to commuting by train." (current state)
- "It took Mark three months to get used to commuting by train." (process of adaptation)
In the TOEIC®, this distinction appears mainly in Parts 6 and 7, in contexts of professional adaptation or organizational changes.
Part 5 Checklist
Here is a simple method to choose the correct structure in under 10 seconds:
| Question to Ask Yourself | Answer | Structure to Use |
|---|---|---|
| Is the action still happening today? | No, it's finished | used to + base verb |
| Is there a « be » verb before « used to »? | Yes | be used to + -ING |
| Does the context talk about adaptation or routine? | Ongoing adaptation | get used to + -ING |
| Is the sentence negative with « didn't »? | Yes | didn't use to (no -d) |
Frequent Errors: Summary Table
| Error | Correction | TOEIC® Clue |
|---|---|---|
| I'm used to work remotely | I'm used to working remotely | Presence of « be » before « used to » |
| He uses to manage this team | He used to manage this team | Past habit, always « used » |
| Did you used to attend? | Did you use to attend? | Auxiliary « did » removes the -d |
| She used to working here | She used to work here | No « be », so base verb |
| I don't used to eat meat | I didn't use to eat meat | Past tense negation = « didn't » |
What we often observe: even after understanding the rule, many candidates can still hesitate on the test day. The issue is that they try to remember the rule during the exam, instead of having developed an automatic reflex.
Business Examples (TOEIC® Format)
Professional Email
- "When I first joined the marketing department, I wasn't used to handling multiple projects simultaneously. However, I quickly got used to managing tight deadlines."
Meeting
- "We used to submit expense reports monthly, but the new policy requires weekly submissions."
Organizational Change
- "The team is still getting used to working from home three days a week."
Express Strategy to Save Time
Even among candidates who already have access to a preparation platform through their school, confusion between "used to" and "be used to" comes up very often in Part 5. The reason: these tools emphasize the rule, but rarely emphasize the reflex to adopt under pressure.
3-Second Method:
- Do you see « be/is/are/was/were » before « used to »? → -ING is mandatory
- No « be » before « used to »? → base verb
- Do you see « didn't/did »? → « use to » without the -d
This method allows you to handle this type of question in under 10 seconds, which is essential when you are in Part 5.
Ready to Practice?
You now master the difference between these three structures. The real challenge: recognizing them instantly under pressure, when 10 other questions are waiting for you.
On Flow Exam, you can practice directly on the "Used To" topic in Part 5, with thousands of questions in the same format as the official TOEIC®. So if you have difficulties with this topic, you will never make the same mistakes again.
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