Luddites versus iPad lovers: “used to” and “be used to” differences
Nobody can say that we don’t live in an ever-changing world: every year we see new gadgets such as iPads, GPS systems, touchscreens and smartphones. Some people like all this new technology, some don’t.
In the nineteenth century, a group of people called the Luddites were against technological development, as they said it had a bad impact on society. I wonder what they would think nowadays! Technology is often a hobby today: people who are big fans of new things are called technology lovers, or even techheads (if they’re really into it).
Like it or hate it, one thing is for sure – things change. Let’s look at an expression that English speakers use to explain the difference between the present and the past. The phrase is used to. It’s not too difficult to use correctly but it is often confused with be used to and get used to, which sound similar but have a different meaning.
‘Used to’ and ‘be used to’
I used to get up early.
This refers to a past habit. It means that in the past you got up early, but nowadays you don’t.
I am used to getting up early.
This refers to something you are familiar with. You are not saying that it is your habit, you are saying that getting up is not a difficult thing for you to do and that you are accustomed to it.
Some more examples
I used to read a newspaper everyday but now I read online.
(This is a habit in the past.)
I used to have a phone at home but now I’ve only got a mobile.
(A state in the past – ‘states’ are verbs like be and have, not action verbs like do or make.)
I’m used to driving on motorways.
(This means: ‘I have had a lot of practice so driving on motorways isn’t a strange experience for me.’)
I can’t get used to driving on the left in Britain.
(This means: ‘It’s still strange for me, it doesn’t feel natural.’)
Luddites v technology lovers
So what about the Luddites versus the technology lovers? The original Luddites probably didn’t need to say ‘I used to’ because they never changed anything. Their favourite sentence was probably ‘Leave it as it is – we’re used to it like that’. An iPad user, on the other hand, might say ‘I used to write with a pen and paper – but now all I need is my finger and a touchscreen’.
What I’m wondering is this: how long did it take them to get used to that touchscreen?
Try practising used to, be used to and get used to in our online exercises and then let me know how you did.
Bassam - May 30, 2020, 6:04 pm
Hello is this case what is the difference in the meaning between:-
I used to drive a car on the left
I was used to driving a car on the left
Thanks a lot
Stuart Cook - May 31, 2020, 10:55 am
‘I used to drive a car on the left’ means that in the past I regularly drove, but nowadays I don’t drive.
‘I was used to driving a car on the left’ means that driving on the left was nothing unusual for me and didn’t seem strange or unfamiliar to me. It doesn’t say whether you still drive on the left.