Introduction
To be used to is a structure used to express habits and customs that are familiar to us.
When expressed in its negative form, the verb denies that the subject has some customs.
Form
To be used to, in its negative form, has this structure:
Subject + to be + not + used to + [verb + ing]/pronoun/noun phrase + …
| Subject | To Be + not | Used To | Gerund |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | am not | used to | working |
| You | are not | used to | working |
| He/She/It | is not | used to | working |
| We/You/They | are not | used to | working |
Short forms of the negative form are the same to the short forms of to be: I’m not – you’re not/you aren’t – he’s not/he isn’t…
Example
- I am not used to drinking coffee at breakfast.
- You are not used to wearing a suit.
- She is not used to listening to rock music.
- We are not used to this climate.
- You are not used to seeing so many people.
- They are not used to this kind of activity.
Use
The structure to be used to denies, in its negative form, something or some activities someone is familiar with or accustomed to.
Summary
To be used to, in the negative form, denies habits and customs that are familiar to us.
When we use to be used to in its negative form, we start with the subject followed by the verb to be not followed by used to and a verb that ends with -ing or a pronoun or noun phrase.
For example:
— “You are not used to having breakfast early in the morning.” = “Having breakfast in the morning” is not the habit of the subject.
NOTE: Don’t confuse it with to use to, that could appear only in sentences that are already in the past tense.
For example:
— “You aren’t used to having breakfast early in the morning.” = We use to be used to to express an action to which the subject isn’t accustomed to now.
♦ “You didn’t use to have breakfast early in the morning.”= We use to use to to express an action that didn’t happen in the past, but it happens now.
Let’s revise this content within the {Form} section. Take a look at the {Example} section that shows its use within a context.