used to
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Accustomed to; familiar with something through experience: Describes a state of being so familiar with a condition, situation, or action that it is no longer strange, difficult, or surprising.
Usage
- The phrase "used to" functions as an adjective and is always followed by a noun or a gerund (the -ing form of a verb).
- It describes a state or condition resulting from repeated exposure or habit.
- It is commonly used in the structures: "be/get/become/grow used to + noun/gerund".
Examples
- Adjective:
- She is used to the cold weather after living in Norway for five years.
- I'm not used to driving on the left side of the road.
- You will soon get used to working with the new software.
Advanced Usage
- "To be used to" vs. "Used to + base verb": It is critical to distinguish this adjectival phrase from the past habit structure "used to + base verb" (e.g., "I used to live there"). The adjectival "used to" can be used in any tense (present: ; past: ; future: ).
- I am used to waking up early. (Adjective: I am now accustomed to it.)
- I used to wake up early. (Past habit: I did it regularly in the past, but I no longer do.)
Variants and Related Words
- Accustomed to (adj.): Synonymous with "used to," often in more formal contexts.
- He became accustomed to the noise of the city.
- Wont to (adj., archaic/literary): In the habit of doing something.
- He was wont to take a long walk before breakfast.
Synonyms
- Accustomed to
- Familiar with
- Inured to (often for negative or difficult things)
- Habituated to
Related Phrases
- Get used to: The process of becoming accustomed to something.
- It took me a month to get used to the new schedule.
- Become used to: A more formal alternative to "get used to."
- Patients gradually become used to the treatment.
Adjective
- in the habit
- I am used to hitchhiking
- you'll get used to the idea
- ...was wont to complain that this is a cold world- Henry David Thoreau