0Used to vs. Be Used To
Many learners confuse these two structures because they look similar but mean very different things. “Used to + verb” refers to a past habit or state that no longer exists: “I used to play cricket every weekend” means it was my habit earlier, but not now. Note that in negatives and questions, we say “I didn’t use to …” or “Did you use to …?” (without the “d”). On the other hand, “Be used to + noun/gerund” means being familiar or comfortable with something: “I am used to waking up early” means early rising feels normal to me. Learners often mistakenly say “I am used to wake up early” (wrong) instead of “I am used to waking up early” (right). A simple test: if what follows is a verb, after “be used to” it must be in the -ing form. Activity: Write three sentences about your old habits (used to) and three about things you are comfortable with now (be used to). Takeaway: remember — used to = past habit (gone now), be used to = present comfort.
