Used to vs. Be/Get used to – English Grammar Exercises for B2
Read this coffee-shop conversation between two Millennials reflecting on how much technology has changed since their childhood. Choose the best option (A, B, C, or D) to complete each sentence. Pay close attention to whether the speaker is expressing a nostalgic past habit or their current (and sometimes reluctant) acceptance of modern technology.
1 “Do you remember our summers in the 90s? We ______ outside playing until the streetlights came on, without a single screen in sight.”
(A) were used to stay
(B) got used to staying
(C) used to stay
(D) are used to staying
2 “It’s crazy to see toddlers swiping on iPads at restaurants. I suppose I ______ seeing it everywhere now, but it still makes me a bit sad.”
(A) used to
(B) have got used to
(C) have used to
(D) am get used to
3 “I was telling my nephew about the internet back then. We ______ the agonizing, screeching sound of the dial-up modem every time we wanted to go online.”
(A) used to listen to
(B) got used to listen
(C) are used to listening
(D) use to listen to
4 “Nowadays, bosses expect us to reply to work emails on weekends. I absolutely hate it, and I don’t think I will ever ______ reachable 24/7”
(A) get used to being
(B) be used to be
(C) use to be
(D) used to being
5 “Life felt so much simpler and more private when we ______ document every single meal we ate on social media.”
(A) didn’t used to
(B) weren’t used to
(C) don’t use to
(D) didn’t use to
6 “I hate to admit it, but I ______ scrolling through endless short videos in bed. It’s my most toxic modern habit.”
(A) am used to
(B) used to
(C) get used to
(D) use to
7 “Before smartphones effortlessly stored all our contacts, ______ dozens of your friends’ home phone numbers by heart?”
(A) did you used to memorize
(B) did you use to memorize
(C) were you used to memorize
(D) do you use to memorize
8 “Technology is moving way too fast for me. Honestly, I still ______ the bizarre idea of Artificial Intelligence writing essays for students.”
(A) am not used to
(B) didn’t use to
(C) don’t get used to
(D) am not used for
9 “I genuinely miss having long, deep phone calls. Over the years, however, I ______ just sending a quick text message instead.”
(A) have gotten used to
(B) used to
(C) got used for
(D) have used to
10 “We ______ carefully choose what to photograph because a roll of film only had 24 shots. Today, people take a hundred selfies just to delete 99 of them.”
(A) are used to
(B) were used to
(C) got used to
(D) used to
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (C) used to stay
Explanation:
- Why it’s correct (The Key): “Used to + base verb” expresses a nostalgic childhood habit that is entirely extinct today. It perfectly establishes the memory of the 90s.
- Error Analysis: (A) were used to stay is a Structural Error (requires V-ing). (B) got used to staying is a Meaning Trap; it focuses on the process of adapting to staying outside, which misses the nostalgic “past habit” nuance. (D) are used to staying is a Tense Trap (wrong timeframe).
2 (B) have got used to
Explanation:
- Why it’s correct (The Key): “Have got used to + V-ing” (Present Perfect) perfectly captures a transition from the past to the present: the speaker has undergone the process of adapting and has finally accepted this modern reality.
- Error Analysis: (A) used to is the Common Mistake, which would mean they formerly saw iPads everywhere but don’t anymore—ruining the context. (C) have used to is a Structural Error (missing ‘got’ or ‘been’). (D) am get used to is a severe grammatical error.
3 (A) used to listen to
Explanation:
- Why it’s correct (The Key): “Used to + base verb” describes the regular, extinct past occurrence of listening to the dial-up modem.
- Error Analysis: (B) got used to listen is a Structural Error (missing V-ing). (C) are used to listening is the Common Mistake, applying present adaptation to a 90s technology. (D) use to listen to is a Structural Error (missing the ‘d’).
4 (A) get used to being
Explanation:
- Why it’s correct (The Key): “Get used to + V-ing” refers to the process of adapting. The speaker is expressing a refusal to ever undergo the adaptation process of being constantly available.
- Error Analysis: (C) use to be is the Common Mistake. (B) be used to be is a Structural Error (missing V-ing after ‘to’). (D) used to being is a Structural Error (after the future auxiliary ‘will’, you must use the base verb ‘get’ or ‘be’).
5 (D) didn’t use to
Explanation:
- Why it’s correct (The Key): “Didn’t use to + base verb” correctly establishes that over-sharing online was not a habit in the past.
- Error Analysis: (A) didn’t used to is the Common Mistake (double past tense; the ‘d’ must be dropped when ‘didn’t’ is present). (B) weren’t used to is a Meaning Trap (means “we weren’t accustomed to it,” which doesn’t fit the fact that the technology simply didn’t exist to make it a habit). (C) don’t use to is a Tense Error.
6 (A) am used to
Explanation:
- Why it’s correct (The Key): “Am used to + V-ing” describes a current state. The speaker is admitting that doom-scrolling has unfortunately become a normal, comfortable habit for them right now.
- Error Analysis: (B) used to is the Common Mistake, contradicting the “modern habit” context by putting the action in the dead past. (C) get used to refers to the process of adapting, but “in bed” and “toxic habit” imply the routine is already fully established. (D) use to is a Structural Error.
7 (B) did you use to memorize
Explanation:
- Why it’s correct (The Key): To ask a question about an extinct past habit (memorizing numbers), we use the formula “Did + subject + use to + base verb”.
- Error Analysis: (A) did you used to memorize is the Common Mistake (retaining the ‘d’ after ‘did’). (C) were you used to memorize is a Structural Error (requires V-ing). (D) do you use to memorize is a Tense Error (asks about a present habit, contradicting the “Before smartphones” context).
8 (A) am not used to
Explanation:
- Why it’s correct (The Key): “Am not used to + noun” expresses a current state of being unaccustomed to or uncomfortable with a new development (AI technology).
- Error Analysis: (B) didn’t use to is the Common Mistake, misapplying the past habit structure to a present state of shock. (C) don’t get used to is a Tense/Meaning Error (present simple negative doesn’t work for describing a current state of non-adaptation). (D) am not used for uses the wrong preposition.
9 (A) have gotten used to
Explanation:
- Why it’s correct (The Key): “Have gotten used to” (Present Perfect of ‘get used to’) shows that over a period of time (“over the years”), the speaker has successfully adapted to a new behavior (texting), even if they miss the old one.
- Error Analysis: (B) used to is the Common Mistake (implies texting is an extinct past habit). (C) got used for is a Preposition Error. (D) have used to is a Structural Error.
10 (D) used to
Explanation:
- Why it’s correct (The Key): “Used to + base verb” contrasts the limited, careful habits of the past (using film cameras) with the excessive reality of today (taking hundreds of selfies).
- Error Analysis: (B) were used to is the Meaning Trap. Saying “we were used to choosing carefully” means “we were accustomed to it,” which weakens the direct comparison of “Past Habit vs. Present Habit”. (A) are used to is a Tense Error. (C) got used to focuses on the process of adapting to film cameras, which makes no sense in this context.
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
At the B2/C1 level, mastering these grammar structures allows you to beautifully articulate the “Generation Gap” and the passage of time:
1 The Nostalgic Memory: Used to + Base Verb
- Usage: Use this to fondly (or critically) remember how the world operated before a massive technological shift. It emphasizes that this reality is gone forever.
- Example: “We used to rent movies from Blockbuster.” (A dead habit).
2 The Reluctant Acceptance: Have got used to + Noun / V-ing
- Usage: Use the Present Perfect form of “get used to” to describe the completed journey of adapting to a modern change that you initially found weird or difficult.
- Example: “I have got used to scanning QR codes for menus.” (I didn’t like it at first, but now it is my normal reality).
3 The Culture Shock: Am not used to + Noun / V-ing
- Usage: Use this to express that a new technological trend still feels alien, weird, or uncomfortable to you today.
- Example: “I am not used to wearing VR headsets.” (It currently feels unnatural to me).