Lessons · Lesson 4 of 11
Used to · be used to · get used to
Mission: You want to explain how something changed in your life — what you did before, what feels normal now, and what took time.
These three look the same but mean different things. Telling your own “then and now” story is the fastest way to stop mixing them.
Hear a little
Read or listen. Don't study it. Just follow the conversation.
When you first got international orders, was speaking English with customers difficult?
Yes, I used to feel nervous on every call.
And now?
Now I'm used to speaking with customers from different countries.
What took the longest?
I had to get used to different accents. And you? You used to drink coffee, right?
I did! Then I discovered proper chai. Now I'm so used to it, coffee tastes strange.
Speak first
Compare your life five years ago with your life now. What changed? What feels normal now?
Just tell it. We'll sort out the grammar after. Say it out loud, or type it if you can't speak right now.
Notice the gap
What did you want to say but couldn't? These are the phrases and patterns that fill that gap.
- used to + verb = a past habit, not true now“I used to handle every customer message myself.”
- be used to + noun / -ing = it feels normal now“I'm used to dealing with international customers.”
- get used to + noun / -ing = the process of adapting“It took me time to get used to different accents.”
- Then → now → the changeA simple story shape that uses all three.
Fix one thing
Try each one. If you miss, you'll get a hint first, so you can fix it yourself.
Speak again, faster
Tell your then-and-now story again using all three: used to, I'm used to, I had to get used to.
Coach yourself, the way Zayaan does after you finish:
Recall tomorrow
Save these phrases. They'll come back in Recall practice tomorrow, in 3 days and in a week.
- I used to…
- Now I'm used to…
- It took me time to get used to…
Muddassir and Zayaan are real; this dialogue is a practice scenario inspired by their lessons. Read their story.