Used to / Be used to / Get used to – English Grammar Exercises for B2
A tech blogger is writing a review about the learning curve and experience of switching to a bizarrely shaped, split ergonomic keyboard to prevent wrist strain.
Choose the best option (A, B, C, or D) to complete each sentence from the tech review.
1 “Before I bought this crazy split keyboard, I ______ type on a standard, completely flat laptop keyboard.”
(A) used to
(B) was used to
(C) use to
(D) get used to
2 “When I first unboxed it, the two separated halves looked bizarre because I ______ seeing a single, unified board on my desk.”
(A) used to
(B) was used to
(C) got used to
(D) was use to
3 “I will be completely honest with my viewers: it takes a steep learning curve to ______ this radical design.”
(A) be used to
(B) get use to
(C) get used to
(D) used to
4 “As a younger programmer, I ______ care about wrist posture, but chronic joint pain has forced me to change my setup.”
(A) didn’t used to
(B) haven’t used to
(C) wasn’t used to
(D) didn’t use to
5 “Many subscribers ask me in the comments: ______ experience severe forearm strain before making the switch to ergonomic gear?”
(A) Did you used to
(B) Were you used to
(C) Did you use to
(D) Are you used to
6 “It has been exactly two weeks of daily testing, and my fingers ______ resting at this strange 45-degree angle.”
(A) are slowly getting used to
(B) slowly get use to
(C) used to slowly get
(D) slowly used to
7 “If you buy this device, you must be patient with yourself. You ______ the thumb clusters overnight.”
(A) didn’t use to
(B) won’t get used to
(C) aren’t used to
(D) won’t get use to
8 “Because I ______ typing at 120 words per minute, dropping down to a frustrating 40 WPM on day one was incredibly humbling.”
(A) used to
(B) am use to
(C) am used to
(D) get used to
9 “I promise that if you practice for just twenty minutes a day, you ______ the new layout within a month.”
(A) will be used to
(B) will used to
(C) will get used to
(D) are getting used to
10 “For the past few days, I ______ relying exclusively on my thumbs for the ‘Enter’ and ‘Space’ keys, and it feels surprisingly efficient.”
(A) am used to
(B) have used to
(C) got used to
(D) have been getting used to
11 “I ______ using low-profile membrane keyboards, so the loud, tactile click of these mechanical switches was quite a shock.”
(A) got used to
(B) was used to
(C) used to
(D) use to
12 “If your wrists ______ being perfectly straight while typing, the initial outward stretch of the ergonomic tilt will ache slightly.”
(A) don’t use to
(B) didn’t use to
(C) aren’t used to
(D) aren’t use to
13 “I ______ use a wrist rest at all, but the built-in padded cushions on this premium model are an absolute game-changer.”
(A) never used to
(B) was never used to
(C) never use to
(D) haven’t ever used to
14 “The manufacturer includes a gamified typing tutor software to help buyers ______ the unorthodox key placements.”
(A) get used to
(B) be used to
(C) get use to
(D) used to
15 “According to the manual, these elevated central columns ______ reduce pronation and keep your forearms in a neutral ‘handshake’ position.”
(A) used to
(B) are used to
(C) get used to
(D) are use to
16 “As a lifelong touch-typist, the most challenging mental obstacle for me was ______ not having any letters printed on the keycaps.”
(A) getting use to
(B) get used to
(C) getting used to
(D) being used to
17 “The split spacebar might seem like an unnecessary gimmick, but once you try it, you will quickly ______.”
(A) get used to it
(B) get used to
(C) use to it
(D) be used for it
18 “When reviewing new tech, I always evaluate how long it takes a normal user to ______ abandoning their old muscle memory.”
(A) be used to
(B) get used to
(C) got used to
(D) get use to
19 “By the time you finish writing your first major project on this keyboard, you ______ the strange split layout entirely.”
(A) will have used to
(B) will entirely use to
(C) are used to
(D) will have gotten used to
20 “I ______ think ergonomic gear was overpriced snake oil, but now I ______ paying a premium to protect my physical health.”
(A) used to / am used to
(B) was used to / get used to
(C) use to / am used to
(D) used to / used to
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (A) used to
- Why it is correct: Establishes the reviewer’s past habit (typing on a flat keyboard) before making the switch. Followed by the base verb “type”.
- Distractor Analysis: (B) Structural Error: “was used to” must be followed by a V-ing form (“typing”). (C) Common Mistake: Missing the “d”. (D) Meaning Trap: Describes a process of adapting, which does not fit the context of a long-standing past habit.
2 (B) was used to
- Why it is correct: Describes the reviewer’s past state of being accustomed to standard keyboards, which explains why the new one looked bizarre. Followed by V-ing (“seeing”).
- Distractor Analysis: (A) Structural Error: “used to” requires a base verb (“see”). (C) Meaning Trap: “got used to” implies the process of adapting to seeing a single board happened at that exact moment of unboxing, which makes no sense. (D) Common Mistake: Missing the “d”.
3 (C) get used to
- Why it is correct: The phrase “takes a learning curve to” implies an active process of adapting. “Get used to” captures this dynamic transition.
- Distractor Analysis: (A) Meaning Trap: “be used to” implies a static, finished state, completely ignoring the dynamic “learning curve” process. (B) Common Mistake: Missing the “d”. (D) Structural Error: Requires a base verb.
4 (D) didn’t use to
- Why it is correct: The negative form of a past habit. Because the auxiliary verb “didn’t” is present, the verb “use” must drop the “d”. Followed by the base verb “care”.
- Distractor Analysis: (A) Common Mistake: Keeping the “d” after “didn’t”. (B) Structural Error: “haven’t” is not the correct auxiliary verb. (C) Structural Error: “wasn’t used to” requires V-ing (“caring”).
5 (C) Did you use to
- Why it is correct: The interrogative (question) form of a past habit. The auxiliary “Did” requires the base verb “use” (without ‘d’).
- Distractor Analysis: (A) Common Mistake: Keeping the “d” in a question with “Did”. (B) Structural Error: Requires V-ing (“experiencing”). (D) Meaning Trap: Wrong tense; asks about current familiarity instead of past experiences.
6 (A) are slowly getting used to
- Why it is correct: The Present Continuous form of “get used to” perfectly illustrates an ongoing, gradual process of physical adaptation.
- Distractor Analysis: (B) Common Mistake: Missing the “to be” verb (“are”) and the “d”. (C) Structural Error: Incorrect grammatical structure. (D) Meaning Trap: Uses a past habit structure for an ongoing present situation.
7 (B) won’t get used to
- Why it is correct: A future negative prediction regarding the adaptation process (“overnight” shows it takes time).
- Distractor Analysis: (A) Meaning Trap: Refers to a past habit. (C) Meaning Trap: “aren’t used to” describes the current state, but the adverb “overnight” demands a dynamic/future process verb. (D) Common Mistake: Missing the “d”.
8 (C) am used to
- Why it is correct: Describes the reviewer’s current, deeply ingrained state of being a fast typist (followed by V-ing “typing”).
- Distractor Analysis: (A) Structural Error: “used to” requires the base verb “type”. (B) Common Mistake: Missing the “d”. (D) Meaning Trap: They aren’t in the process of learning to type 120 WPM; they already possess that skill (static state).
9 (C) will get used to
- Why it is correct: A strong reassurance about the future. It promises that the process of adapting to the strange layout will be successfully completed within a month.
- Distractor Analysis: (A) Meaning Trap: “will be used to” is static; “will get used to” emphasizes the successful crossing of the learning curve. (B) Common Mistake/Structural Error: Missing “get/be” and “d”. (D) Meaning Trap: Wrong tense for a future prediction.
10 (D) have been getting used to
- Why it is correct: The Present Perfect Continuous tense emphasizes an ongoing process of adaptation that started “a few days” ago and is still happening now.
- Distractor Analysis: (A) Meaning Trap: “am used to” means fully accustomed, but the context implies they are still evaluating a recent change. (B) Common Mistake: Incorrect grammar format. (C) Meaning Trap: “got used to” implies the process is entirely finished, which contradicts “For the past few days… it feels surprisingly…”.
11 (B) was used to
- Why it is correct: Describes a past state of being accustomed to a different type of technology (membrane keyboards). Followed by V-ing (“using”).
- Distractor Analysis: (A) Meaning Trap: Misses the context; they already possessed this familiarity before the shock of the new keyboard. (C) Structural Error: “used to” requires a base verb (“use”). (D) Common Mistake.
12 (C) aren’t used to
- Why it is correct: A conditional warning (“If your wrists…”) describing a current lack of physical familiarity (followed by V-ing “being”).
- Distractor Analysis: (A) Structural Error: “don’t use to” is grammatically invalid for present states. (B) Meaning Trap: A past habit doesn’t dictate this present physical condition. (D) Common Mistake: Missing the “d”.
13 (A) never used to
- Why it is correct: Emphasizes a negative past habit. Since the auxiliary “didn’t” is absent, “used” retains its “d”. Followed by the base verb “use”.
- Distractor Analysis: (B) Structural Error: “was never used to” requires V-ing (“using”). (C) Common Mistake: Many learners mistakenly drop the “d” after “never”. (D) Structural Error: Incorrect auxiliary verb combination.
14 (A) get used to
- Why it is correct: After the verb “help (buyers)”, you use the base verb. “Get used to” emphasizes helping the user through the active process of building muscle memory.
- Distractor Analysis: (B) Meaning Trap: You generally “help someone get” accustomed (a journey), rather than helping them simply “be” accustomed (a destination). (C) Common Mistake: Missing the “d”. (D) Structural Error.
15 (B) are used to
- Why it is correct: STRONG DISTRACTOR (The Passive Voice Trap). The columns on a keyboard do not have habits or feelings. They ARE UTILIZED TO reduce pronation (Subject + be used + to-infinitive).
- Distractor Analysis: (A) Meaning Trap: Plastic columns cannot possess past habits. (C) Meaning Trap: Inanimate objects cannot undergo biological or mental adaptation. (D) Common Mistake: Missing the “d”.
16 (C) getting used to
- Why it is correct: A Gerund phrase is needed here to act as the subject complement following the verb “was”. Therefore, the base verb “get” becomes “getting”.
- Distractor Analysis: (A) Common Mistake: Missing the “d”. (B) Structural Error: Cannot use a base verb immediately after “was” in this structure. (D) Meaning Trap: The obstacle was the active struggle of adapting (getting), not just the static state of existing (being).
17 (A) get used to it
- Why it is correct: The preposition “to” requires an object pronoun when concluding this phrase. “It” replaces the concept of “the split spacebar”.
- Distractor Analysis: (B) Structural Error: Ends the sentence with a dangling preposition “to”, missing its required object. (C) Common Mistake: Missing “get/be” and “d”. (D) Meaning Trap: Wrong meaning (“be utilized for it”).
18 (B) get used to
- Why it is correct: The phrase “takes a normal user [time] to…” requires a base verb denoting a process. “Get used to” is followed by V-ing (“abandoning”).
- Distractor Analysis: (A) Meaning Trap: “be used to” is static; a reviewer tests the duration of the process (getting used to). (C) Structural Error: Cannot use a past tense verb after the “to” infinitive marker. (D) Common Mistake: Missing the “d”.
19 (D) will have gotten used to
- Why it is correct: The time clause “By the time…” establishes a deadline, requiring the Future Perfect tense. The process of adapting (getting used to) will be entirely completed by that point in the future.
- Distractor Analysis: (A) Common Mistake: “will have used to” literally translates to “will have had a past habit,” which makes no sense. (B) Structural Error. (C) Meaning Trap: Wrong tense for a future projection.
20 (A) used to / am used to
- Why it is correct: The first blank describes a past belief that is no longer held (“used to think”). The second blank describes a current, comfortable state of reality (“am used to paying”).
- Distractor Analysis: (B) Structural Error: “was used to” requires V-ing (“thinking”). (C) Common Mistake: Missing the “d” in the first blank. (D) Meaning Trap/Structural Error: The second blank refers to a present state (“now”), and “used to” requires a base verb, not “paying”.
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
When describing the experience of switching to new hardware, software, or workflows:
- Explaining the “Learning Curve”: Use Get used to + Noun / V-ing.
- Function: This is the most crucial phrase for product reviews. It acknowledges that the user will face initial friction, but emphasizes the process of building muscle memory.
- Example: “The layout is strange, but you will quickly get used to it.”
- Highlighting the User’s Muscle Memory: Use Be used to + Noun / V-ing.
- Function: Describes the user’s current, ingrained habits that might conflict with the new product.
- Example: “Because you are used to a standard mouse, a vertical mouse will feel weird.”
- Contrasting the “Before and After”: Use Used to + Base Verb.
- Function: Excellent for storytelling in a review. Tell the audience what your old, inferior setup or habit was.
- Example: “I used to suffer from wrist pain before finding this keyboard.”
- Grammar Rule: If you say “didn’t” or ask “did you”, always drop the “d” from the verb (e.g., didn’t use to).
- The “Feature” Trap (Passive Voice): When writing about what a specific button or design element does, remember that objects don’t have habits!
- Example: “The macro keys are used to launch apps.” This means “are utilized to” (Passive Voice: Subject + be used + to-infinitive). Do not confuse this with human adaptation!