Meaning and use of “to be used to”

Let’s look at an example sentence:

I like living in London. I am used to the noise.

Meaning: I am accustomed to the noise in London. It is not new to me.

Therefore, the meaning of “to be used to something” is:

= to be familiar with something.
= to be accustomed to something.
If you are used to something, then the thing is not new to you.

The pronunciation of “used” in this context is: /juːst/

Form

Affirmative with noun phrase

Form:
subject + verb to be + “used to” + noun phrase

Example:
I am used to the noise.

To change the tense, we change the tense of the verb “to be”.

Examples:
When you lived in London, did the noise bother you? (Question in past tense, second person singular)
No, I was used to it. (Past tense, first person singular)

When your parents lived in London, did the noise bother them? (Question in past tense, third person plural)
No, they were used to it. (Past tense, third person plural)

The verb “to be” is an irregular verb. It is important to know its form in order to fully understand the “to be used to” structure. Here is my lesson explaing it in more detail. – The verb BE.