Used to vs. Be/Get used to – English Grammar Exercises for B2
Read this conversation between a newly promoted Director and her executive mentor. The new Director is feeling overwhelmed by the shift from being an individual contributor to managing a large team. Choose the best option (A, B, C, or D) to complete each sentence. Pay close attention to whether the speaker is discussing an obsolete past habit, a current state of discomfort, or the ongoing process of adapting to new leadership responsibilities.
1 “When I was just a senior developer, I ______ leave the office at exactly 5 PM and completely disconnect from my emails. Now, I check my phone constantly.”
(A) used to
(B) was used to
(C) got used to
(D) use to
2 “Right now, I am really struggling with the pressure. I ______ the terrifying fact that the final decision on these million-dollar projects falls entirely on my shoulders.”
(A) am getting used to
(B) am used to
(C) use to
(D) get used to
3 “Before this promotion, I ______ worry about the quarterly budget at all. I only had to focus on writing clean code.”
(A) didn’t use to
(B) wasn’t used to
(C) didn’t used to
(D) don’t use to
4 “I had to let an underperforming employee go yesterday. It was heartbreaking, and I don’t think I will ever ______ firing people.”
(A) get used to
(B) be used with
(C) use to
(D) used to
5 “Tell me honestly, Sarah: ______ this overwhelmed and isolated when you first became an executive ten years ago?”
(A) did you use to feel
(B) did you used to feel
(C) were you used to feeling
(D) do you use to feel
6 “Leading the weekly all-hands meeting is still quite terrifying, but I ______ speaking in front of fifty people every Monday.”
(A) am slowly getting used to
(B) slowly used to
(C) am slowly used to
(D) slowly get use to
7 “It is quite ironic. I ______ complain about how slow and bureaucratic the management team was, and now I am the one delaying project approvals.”
(A) used to
(B) got used to
(C) use to
(D) was used to
8 “[Mentor:] Don’t panic; the imposter syndrome is entirely normal at this stage. I promise that you ______ delegating tasks instead of trying to do everything yourself.”
(A) will get used to
(B) will used to
(C) will get use to
(D) get used to
9 “As an individual contributor, I ______ dealing with interpersonal team conflicts. Now, I spend half my day acting like a therapist.”
(A) wasn’t used to
(B) didn’t use to
(C) didn’t used to
(D) wasn’t used for
10 “The hardest part of the transition is the social isolation. My old peers treat me differently now, and I ______ being seen as the ‘boss’ rather than a friend.”
(A) am not used to
(B) didn’t use to
(C) don’t get used to
(D) haven’t used to
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (A) used to
Explanation:
- Why it’s correct (The Key): “Used to + base verb” describes a past habit (disconnecting at 5 PM) that is no longer true now that she is a Director. It perfectly highlights the contrast between her old role and her new reality.
- Error Analysis: (B) was used to is a Structural Error (must be followed by V-ing). (C) got used to is a Meaning Trap (focuses on the process of adapting to leaving at 5 PM, which misses the nostalgic “past habit” nuance). (D) use to is a Spelling Error (missing the ‘d’).
2 (A) am getting used to
Explanation:
- Why it’s correct (The Key): “Am getting used to + noun” describes the active, ongoing process of adapting to a heavy burden. The phrase “struggling with the pressure” indicates she is currently in the transition phase, not fully comfortable yet.
- Error Analysis: (B) am used to is a Meaning Trap (implies she is already perfectly comfortable with the pressure, contradicting “struggling”). (C) use to is the Common Mistake. (D) get used to is a Tense Error (requires present continuous for an action happening “right now”).
3 (A) didn’t use to
Explanation:
- Why it’s correct (The Key): To express a past reality where an action was not a habit or requirement (not worrying about the budget), we use “didn’t use to + base verb”.
- Error Analysis: (B) wasn’t used to is a Structural Error (requires V-ing, not the base verb ‘worry’). (C) didn’t used to is the Common Mistake (double past tense; ‘did’ already carries the past tense, so ‘use’ must drop the ‘d’). (D) don’t use to is a Tense Error.
4 (A) get used to
Explanation:
- Why it’s correct (The Key): “Get used to + V-ing” refers to the process of adapting. After the modal/auxiliary “will ever,” the base verb “get” must be used. She is saying she will never successfully complete the process of adapting to firing people.
- Error Analysis: (D) used to is the Common Mistake (mixing the future auxiliary ‘will’ with the past form ‘used to’). (B) be used with uses the wrong preposition (‘with’ instead of ‘to’). (C) use to is a Structural Error.
5 (A) did you use to feel
Explanation:
- Why it’s correct (The Key): To ask a question about an obsolete past state or feeling, the correct formula is “Did + subject + use to + base verb”.
- Error Analysis: (B) did you used to feel is the Common Mistake (retaining the ‘d’ after the past auxiliary ‘did’). (C) were you used to feeling is a Meaning Trap (asks if the mentor was accustomed to feeling overwhelmed, rather than asking if the overwhelmed feeling simply existed as a past reality). (D) do you use to feel is a Tense Error.
6 (A) am slowly getting used to
Explanation:
- Why it’s correct (The Key): “Am getting used to + V-ing” perfectly captures the ongoing, gradual process of adapting to public speaking (highlighted by the adverb “slowly”).
- Error Analysis: (B) slowly used to is the Common Mistake (places the action entirely in the past, ignoring her current terrifying reality). (C) am slowly used to is a Meaning Trap (you cannot “slowly” be in a static state of “used to”; you can only “slowly get” there). (D) slowly get use to is a Spelling Error (missing the ‘d’ on ‘used’).
7 (A) used to
Explanation:
- Why it’s correct (The Key): “Used to + base verb (complain)” acknowledges a past, perhaps hypocritical, habit that she used to do but no longer does now that she is management.
- Error Analysis: (B) got used to is a Meaning Trap (means “I adapted to complaining,” which makes no sense contextually). (D) was used to is a Structural Error (requires V-ing). (C) use to is a Spelling Error.
8 (A) will get used to
Explanation:
- Why it’s correct (The Key): “Will get used to + V-ing” acts as a reassuring promise from the mentor, guaranteeing that the painful transition period of learning to delegate will eventually finish.
- Error Analysis: (B) will used to is the Common Mistake (incorrectly combining future ‘will’ and past ‘used to’). (C) will get use to is a Spelling Error (missing ‘d’). (D) get used to is a Tense Error (missing the ‘will’ needed to make a future promise).
9 (A) wasn’t used to
Explanation:
- Why it’s correct (The Key): “Wasn’t used to + V-ing (dealing)” describes a past state of being completely unaccustomed to or unfamiliar with something. Because she was a developer, team psychology was alien to her.
- Error Analysis: (B) didn’t use to is a Structural Error (must be followed by the base verb “deal,” not “dealing”). (C) didn’t used to is a Spelling/Structural Error. (D) wasn’t used for uses the incorrect preposition.
10 (A) am not used to
Explanation:
- Why it’s correct (The Key): “Am not used to + V-ing (being seen)” perfectly describes her current, ongoing state of discomfort. The new social dynamic feels alien to her right now.
- Error Analysis: (B) didn’t use to is the Common Mistake, misapplying the past habit structure to describe a present feeling of alienation. (C) don’t get used to is a Tense/Meaning Error (present simple negative does not work for describing a current emotional state of discomfort). (D) haven’t used to is a Structural Error.
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
When discussing career transitions, promotions, or taking on heavy new responsibilities at the B2/C1 level, mastering these three forms is critical for expressing your exact level of comfort:
1 The Obsolete Past (The Subordinate Days): Used to + Base Verb
- Function: Describes tasks, habits, or mentalities from your old role that are now completely gone.
- Example: “I used to wait for instructions.” (A dead habit; now I give the instructions).
2 The Current Discomfort (The Reality Shock): Be (not) used to + V-ing / Noun
- Function: Describes your current state. If you “are not used to” something, it means it currently feels weird, heavy, or unnatural to you.
- Example: “I am not used to making the final financial decisions.” (It currently feels overwhelming).
3 The Adaptive Process (The Growth Phase): Get used to + V-ing / Noun
- Function: Describes the journey of learning to cope. Use this when you are in the middle of struggling, or when a mentor promises you that the struggle will end.
- Example: “It’s hard, but I am getting used to the responsibility.” (I am currently adapting).
- Example: “You will get used to the pressure.” (A promise of future adaptation).