Introduction
Understanding the difference between "used to" and "be used to" is essential for the TOEIC test, as both expressions frequently appear in business and everyday contexts. These phrases help express habits and familiarity with activities or situations, which are common in workplace conversations and written communications.
Explanation
"Used to" is used to describe past habits or situations that no longer occur. It is followed by the base form of the verb.
Example: "I used to work late on Fridays." (This means that working late on Fridays was a regular habit in the past, but it is not anymore.)
"Be used to" indicates that someone is accustomed to a situation or activity. It is followed by a noun or a gerund (verb + -ing).
Example: "She is used to working in a fast-paced environment." (This means she is familiar with and comfortable working in such conditions.)
Common mistakes
Confusing "used to" with "be used to":
Incorrect: "I am used to go to the gym every morning."
Correct: "I used to go to the gym every morning." (This was a past habit.)
Using the wrong verb form after "be used to":
Incorrect: "He is used to work long hours."
Correct: "He is used to working long hours." (The gerund form is needed here.)
Tips for the TOEIC test
Pay attention to context clues in the sentence to determine whether the action is a past habit or a current state of familiarity.
Remember that "used to" is always about the past, while "be used to" can refer to present or past familiarity.
Look for time indicators such as "used to" with past contexts or "be used to" with current situations to help choose the correct form.
Mini practice
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of "used to" or "be used to":
When I lived in New York, I __________ (take) the subway to work every day.
She __________ (manage) multiple projects at once, so this new assignment won't be a problem for her.
Before the pandemic, we __________ (have) weekly team meetings in person.
Answers
used to take
is used to managing
used to have