Used to vs. Be/Get used to – English Grammar Exercises for B2
Read this social media post from a fitness influencer who recently shared their weight loss journey. Choose the best option (A, B, C, or D) to complete each sentence. Pay close attention to the contrast between past bad habits that have been broken and new healthy routines that have become normal.
1 “Look at this before-and-after picture! Before this journey, I ______ three burgers in one sitting without even thinking about the calories.”
(A) was used to eat
(B) got used to eating
(C) used to eat
(D) am used to eating
2 “It was absolutely brutal at first, but now I ______ at 5 AM every single morning for my daily 10km run.”
(A) used to wake up
(B) am used to wake up
(C) get used to waking up
(D) am used to waking up
3 “When I first cut out sugar, everything tasted terrible. I really struggled to ______ my coffee completely black.”
(A) used to drink
(B) get used to drinking
(C) be used to drink
(D) getting used to drink
4 “In my old photos, you can see how tired I looked. I ______ lethargic all the time because I never moved my body.”
(A) used to feel
(B) use to feel
(C) was used to feeling
(D) am used to feeling
5 “Now that I’ve been eating clean for a year, I ______ greasy fast food anymore. If I eat it now, it actually makes my stomach hurt.”
(A) didn’t use to eat
(B) am not used to eating
(C) don’t use to eat
(D) am not used to eat
6 “For those of you just starting out on your journey, tell me: ______ late-night snacks before you decided to make a change?”
(A) Did you used to crave
(B) Were you used to crave
(C) Did you use to crave
(D) Do you use to crave
7 “During the first month at the gym, my muscles screamed in pain. I clearly ______ that level of intense physical training back then.”
(A) didn’t use to
(B) wasn’t used for
(C) didn’t used to
(D) wasn’t used to
8 “My diet was a mess. I ______ skip breakfast completely and just rely on sugary energy drinks to stay awake.”
(A) was used to
(B) would used to
(C) used to
(D) use to
9 “I promise you guys, the meal prep is annoying at first, but eventually you ______ organizing your macros every Sunday.”
(A) will get used to
(B) will be used with
(C) will used to
(D) get used to
10 “People always ask if I miss my old lifestyle. Honestly, I ______ this energetic, healthy version of myself now that I could never go back.”
(A) used to be
(B) am so used to
(C) am getting use to
(D) got used for
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (C)
Explanation:
- Why it’s correct (The Key): “Used to + base verb” describes a past habit (eating three burgers) that is no longer true today. It perfectly highlights the 180-degree change.
- Error Analysis: (A) was used to eat is a Structural Error (needs V-ing after ‘be used to’). (D) am used to eating is a Tense Trap (implies the person still does this now). (B) got used to eating is a Meaning Trap (focuses on the process of adapting, not a broken past habit).
2 (D)
Explanation:
- Why it’s correct (The Key): “Am used to + V-ing” describes a current state of being perfectly accustomed to something. Waking up at 5 AM is now normal and comfortable for them.
- Error Analysis: (A) used to wake up is the Common Mistake, completely ruining the meaning (it would mean they don’t wake up at 5 AM anymore). (B) am used to wake up is a Structural Error (missing -ing). (C) get used to waking up refers to the process of adapting, but “now” indicates the adaptation is already complete.
3 (B)
Explanation:
- Why it’s correct (The Key): “Get used to + V-ing” means the process of adapting. After “struggled to,” we need the base verb “get”. The speaker is describing the difficult transition period of adapting to black coffee.
- Error Analysis: (A) used to drink is the Common Mistake, confusing a past habit with an adaptation process. (C) be used to drink is a Structural Error (missing -ing). (D) getting used to drink is a Structural Error (missing -ing and wrong verb form after ‘to’).
4 (A)
Explanation:
- Why it’s correct (The Key): “Used to + base verb” states a past reality or state (feeling lethargic) that has been completely eliminated thanks to their weight loss journey.
- Error Analysis: (B) use to feel is a Structural Error (missing the ‘d’ in an affirmative sentence). (C) was used to feeling is a Strong Meaning Trap; it means “I was comfortable/accustomed to feeling lethargic,” which doesn’t fit the context of suffering from bad health. (D) am used to feeling is a Tense Trap.
5 (B)
Explanation:
- Why it’s correct (The Key): “Am not used to + V-ing” means the person is currently unaccustomed to greasy food. Their body has changed so much that junk food is now foreign to their system.
- Error Analysis: (A) didn’t use to eat is the Common Mistake, misapplying the past habit structure to a present reaction. (C) don’t use to eat is a severe Structural Error. (D) am not used to eat is a Structural Error (missing -ing).
6 (C)
Explanation:
- Why it’s correct (The Key): To ask about a past habit, the correct interrogative structure is “Did + subject + use to + base verb”.
- Error Analysis: (A) Did you used to crave is the Common Mistake (double past tense; ‘did’ already carries the past, so ‘use’ must drop the ‘d’). (B) Were you used to crave is a Structural Error (missing -ing). (D) Do you use to crave is a Tense Error.
7 (D)
Explanation:
- Why it’s correct (The Key): “Wasn’t used to + noun” expresses a past state of being completely unaccustomed to something (the physical training), which explains why their muscles hurt so much at the beginning.
- Error Analysis: (A) didn’t use to is the Common Mistake, which would mean “I didn’t have the habit of training,” lacking the nuance of physical shock that “wasn’t used to” provides. (C) didn’t used to is a spelling error. (B) wasn’t used for uses the wrong preposition.
8 (C)
Explanation:
- Why it’s correct (The Key): “Used to + base verb” establishes the negative past routine of skipping breakfast.
- Error Analysis: (A) was used to is a Meaning Trap (implies they were comfortable skipping breakfast, rather than just stating it as a bad habit). (B) would used to is a Structural Error (mixing two different past habit structures: ‘would’ and ‘used to’). (D) use to is a spelling error.
9 (A)
Explanation:
- Why it’s correct (The Key): “Will get used to + V-ing” correctly predicts that the process of adaptation (getting comfortable with meal prep) will be successfully completed in the future.
- Error Analysis: (C) will used to is the Common Mistake (mixing future ‘will’ with past ‘used to’). (B) will be used with uses the wrong preposition (‘with’ instead of ‘to’). (D) get used to is a Tense Trap (missing the future auxiliary ‘will’ for a promise).
10 (B)
Explanation:
- Why it’s correct (The Key): “Am so used to + noun” describes the speaker’s current, deeply ingrained state of comfort with their new healthy identity.
- Error Analysis: (A) used to be is the Common Mistake, which would tragically mean they are no longer energetic and healthy. (C) am getting use to is a spelling error (missing ‘d’). (D) got used for is a preposition error.
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
To talk about massive transformations (like weight loss or moving to a new country) at a B2/C1 level, mastering the contrast between these structures is essential:
1 The Abandoned Past: Used to + V (Base verb)
- Function: Describes a toxic habit or old lifestyle that is dead and gone. It shows how far you have come.
- Context: “I used to drink soda every day.” (Now I only drink water).
- Rule: Drop the ‘d’ in questions/negatives (Did you use to…? I didn’t use to…).
2 The New Normal: Be used to + V-ing / Noun
- Function: Describes a healthy habit that is now comfortable, automatic, and normal for your body/mind.
- Context: “I am used to waking up early.” (It’s not painful anymore; it’s my daily routine).
3 The Struggle of Transition: Get used to + V-ing / Noun
- Function: Describes the difficult process of adapting from the old habit to the new one.
- Context: “My body is still getting used to the heavy workouts.” (I am currently in the transition phase).