Used to vs. Be/Get used to – English Grammar Exercises for B2
Read this conversation between a British employee and their American colleague who has just relocated from New York to London. Choose the best option (A, B, C, or D) to complete each sentence. Pay close attention to whether the speaker is describing an old cultural habit from the US, a current state of culture shock, or the mandatory process of adapting to life in the UK.
1 “Welcome to London! I know that back in New York, you ______ on the right side of the road, but here, you must remember to look right first.”
(A) used to drive
(B) were used to drive
(C) got used to driving
(D) use to drive
2 “Traffic flows completely differently here. You absolutely have to ______ crossing the streets the British way, or it will be quite dangerous.”
(A) get used to
(B) used to
(C) get used for
(D) use to
3 “You are shivering! I can see that you ______ our unpredictable, chilly London rain yet. You should always carry an umbrella.”
(A) didn’t use to
(B) don’t get used to
(C) aren’t used to
(D) aren’t use to
4 “Before moving across the pond, I assume you ______ tea every single afternoon. Well, prepare yourself, because it’s a mandatory daily ritual in our office!”
(A) didn’t used to drink
(B) weren’t used to drinking
(C) don’t use to drink
(D) didn’t use to drink
5 “The London Underground can be incredibly chaotic during rush hour, but I promise you ______ navigating the Tube map within a month.”
(A) will get used to
(B) will used to
(C) will be used with
(D) get used to
6 “Just out of curiosity, ______ a 20% tip at restaurants back in the States? Here, a 10-125% service charge is usually already included in the bill.”
(A) did you used to leave
(B) did you use to leave
(C) were you used to leave
(D) do you use to leave
7 “Unlike the direct communication style in America, British people ______ apologizing for absolutely everything, even when someone else bumps into them.”
(A) used to
(B) get use to
(C) are used for
(D) are used to
8 “It might annoy your laptop’s spellchecker at first, but you have to ______ words like ‘colour’ and ‘programme’ with British spelling in official company emails.”
(A) get used to typing
(B) used to type
(C) be used to type
(D) get used to type
9 “At first, the lack of air conditioning in London flats shocked me. However, after three summers here, I ______ sleeping with just a fan.”
(A) have got used to
(B) used to
(C) have used to
(D) got used for
10 “In Texas, you ______ massive highways and huge parking lots. I warn you, these narrow, winding English streets will definitely test your patience.”
(A) were used to have
(B) got used to having
(C) used to have
(D) use to have
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (A) used to drive
Explanation:
- Why it’s correct (The Key): “Used to + base verb” describes a past habit or reality (driving on the right in NY) that is no longer true now that the expat lives in the UK.
- Error Analysis: (B) were used to drive is a Structural Error (requires V-ing after ‘be used to’). (C) got used to driving is a Meaning Trap (focuses on the process of adapting in NY, missing the simple contrast of an old habit vs. a new rule). (D) use to drive is a Spelling Error (missing the ‘d’).
2 (A) get used to
Explanation:
- Why it’s correct (The Key): “Have to get used to + V-ing/Noun” describes the mandatory process of adapting. “Crossing” is already in the sentence as a gerund, so “get used to” fits perfectly to indicate the required transition.
- Error Analysis: (B) used to is the Common Mistake (places the action in the past). (C) get used for is a Preposition Error. (D) use to is a Structural Error.
3 (C) aren’t used to
Explanation:
- Why it’s correct (The Key): “Are/is not used to + Noun” expresses the expat’s current state of discomfort or unfamiliarity with the London weather.
- Error Analysis: (A) didn’t use to is the Common Mistake, misapplying the past habit structure to describe a present feeling of culture shock. (B) don’t get used to is a Tense Error (present simple doesn’t work for a current state of non-adaptation). (D) aren’t use to is a Spelling Error.
4 (D) didn’t use to drink
Explanation:
- Why it’s correct (The Key): “Didn’t use to + base verb” establishes that drinking afternoon tea was not a cultural habit in America before the move.
- Error Analysis: (A) didn’t used to drink is the Common Mistake (double past tense; ‘did’ already carries the past tense, so ‘use’ drops the ‘d’). (B) weren’t used to drinking is a Meaning Trap (implies they drank tea but weren’t comfortable with it, rather than it simply not being a habit). (C) don’t use to drink is a Tense Error.
5 (A) will get used to
Explanation:
- Why it’s correct (The Key): “Will get used to + V-ing” acts as a reassuring promise that the painful transition period of learning the Tube will successfully finish in the future.
- Error Analysis: (B) will used to is the Common Mistake (incorrectly mixing future ‘will’ with past ‘used to’). (C) will be used with uses the wrong preposition (‘with’ instead of ‘to’). (D) get used to is a Tense Error (missing ‘will’ for a future promise).
6 (B) did you use to leave
Explanation:
- Why it’s correct (The Key): To ask a question about an obsolete past cultural habit (American tipping culture), the correct formula is “Did + subject + use to + base verb”.
- Error Analysis: (A) did you used to leave is the Common Mistake (retaining the ‘d’ after ‘did’). (C) were you used to leave is a Structural Error (requires V-ing) and a Meaning Trap. (D) do you use to leave is a Tense Error.
7 (D) are used to
Explanation:
- Why it’s correct (The Key): “Are used to + V-ing” establishes a current, ingrained cultural norm. For British people, apologizing is a comfortable, automatic state of being.
- Error Analysis: (A) used to is the Common Mistake (implies British people formerly apologized but don’t anymore). (B) get use to is a Tense/Spelling Error (they aren’t currently adapting; it’s already their culture). (C) are used for is a Preposition Error.
8 (A) get used to typing
Explanation:
- Why it’s correct (The Key): “Have to get used to + V-ing” perfectly expresses the mandatory process of adapting to British spelling standards at work.
- Error Analysis: (B) used to type is the Common Mistake (places the action in the past). (C) be used to type is a Structural Error (missing V-ing). (D) get used to type is a Structural Error (after ‘get used to’, you must use a gerund/V-ing, not a base verb).
9 (A) have got used to
Explanation:
- Why it’s correct (The Key): The Present Perfect form “have got used to + V-ing” beautifully shows that over a period of time (three summers), the speaker has successfully completed the process of adapting to a lack of AC.
- Error Analysis: (B) used to is the Common Mistake (means “I had a past habit of sleeping with a fan,” which ignores the narrative of overcoming culture shock). (C) have used to is a Structural Error (missing ‘got’ or ‘been’). (D) got used for is a Preposition Error.
10 (C) used to have
Explanation:
- Why it’s correct (The Key): “Used to + base verb” points back to the expansive American lifestyle that the expat has now left behind. It sets up the contrast with narrow English streets perfectly.
- Error Analysis: (A) were used to have is a Structural Error (requires V-ing, not the base verb ‘have’). (B) got used to having is a Meaning Trap (focuses on how they adapted to Texas, rather than treating Texas as the baseline past habit). (D) use to have is a Spelling Error.
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
When talking about moving abroad, experiencing culture shock, or adapting to new work environments at the B2/C1 level, these three grammar structures are your best friends:
1 The Old Culture (What you left behind): Used to + Base Verb
- Function: Describes the cultural norms or personal habits from your home country that no longer apply in your new life.
- Example: “I used to drive on the right side of the road.” (That was my old reality).
2 The Culture Shock (Current Discomfort): Be (not) used to + V-ing / Noun
- Function: Use this to express how alien or comfortable the new country feels right now. If you “are not used to” the weather, it means it currently bothers you.
- Example: “I am not used to the rainy weather yet.” (I am currently uncomfortable).
3 The Mandatory Adaptation (The Survival Phase): Have to get used to + V-ing / Noun
- Function: Describes the process of adapting that you must go through to survive and integrate.
- Example: “You have to get used to British spelling.” (It is a required transition you must make).