Used To vs. To Be Used To

¡Hola! Olá! Welcome to our friendly guide on understanding the difference between "used to" and "am used to" in English, specifically designed for Spanish and Portuguese speakers. These two expressions may seem confusing at first, but with a little explanation and practice, you'll be able to use them correctly in no time. Let's dive in and explore their meanings, usage, and some helpful examples.

I. "Used to" in English

1.1. Meaning and Usage

"Used to" is a structure in English that refers to actions or situations that were true or habitual in the past but are no longer true or habitual now. It can be used with both action verbs and state verbs.

1.2. Structure

Subject + used to + verb (base form)

Examples:

II. "Am Used to" in English

2.1. Meaning and Usage

"Am used to" (or "be used to") refers to a state of being accustomed or familiar with a situation or an action. It can be used to describe present habits, routines, or situations that we are comfortable with or have adapted to.

2.2. Structure

Subject + be (am/is/are) + used to + gerund (verb + -ing) / noun

Examples:

III. Comparisons with Spanish and Portuguese

In Spanish and Portuguese, different structures are used to express the ideas conveyed by "used to" and "am used to" in English.

3.1. "Used to" in Spanish and Portuguese

For the English "used to," both Spanish and Portuguese use the imperfect tense.

Spanish: solía + infinitive / imperfect tense

Portuguese: costumava + infinitive / pretérito imperfeito

Examples:

English: I used to play soccer every weekend.

Spanish: Solía jugar al fútbol todos los fines de semana. / Jugaba al fútbol todos los fines de semana.

Portuguese: Eu costumava jogar futebol todos os fins de semana. / Eu jogava futebol todos os fins de semana.

3.2. "Am Used to" in Spanish and Portuguese

For the English "am used to," both Spanish and Portuguese use different structures to convey the same meaning.

Spanish: estar acostumbrado/a a + gerund / noun

Portuguese: estar acostumado/a a + gerund / noun

Examples:

English: I am used to waking up early.

Spanish: Estoy acostumbrado a despertarme temprano.

Portuguese: Estou acostumado a acordar cedo.

Conclusion

In this guide, we've explored the differences between "used to" and "am used to" in English and compared them with similar structures in Spanish and Portuguese. With this knowledge and some practice, you'll be able to use these expressions correctly to describe past habits and present familiar situations. Keep up the good work, and you'll master the use of "used to" and "am used to" in no time! ¡Buena suerte! Boa sorte!