Hello,
Well, a new year, 2012, has started and not only that; the month of January is almost over!
Can you believe it? I can’t!
There are some of us, like me, who find it very difficult to believe it is the year 2012 already… Well, maybe I am much older than most of you!
Remember that you can check the vocabulary words in blue at the bottom.
I can remember very well when we used to go to the library to find information or send letters in the post for example, but now we have the Internet and we have got used to looking information up on Google and sending emails. The pleasures of the past have been forgotten.
Nowadays, we are so used to using all this new technology that we think we cannot live without it.
Can you imagine living without mobile phones or the Internet?
Could you get used to not having these two very important tools? I must confess that I probably could not.
Some things are hard to get used to.
So, there are things you are used to, familiar with or accustomed to, which are part of your everyday life; some other new things that you need to get used to, to become familiar with or accustomed to, and others that you may have even forgotten but that you used to do but not any more.
Vocabulary
Already - adverb that means before this time, before now.
The post - letters or packages sent by traditional mail.
To look up - phrasal verb that means to to search and find information, for example in a reference book.
Nowadays - adverb used when talking about the present time.
Without - preposition that means not having or including (something).
Tools - something (such as a hammer, saw, shovel, etc.) that you hold in your hand and use for a particular task.
Familiar with - frequently seen, heard, or experienced; to have some knowledge about.
Accustomed to - familiar with something so that it seems normal or usual.
“To be used to”, “to get used to” and “used to” are quite commonly used in English.
Can you figure out the difference in meaning between the three?
Tell me and next week I will give you some tips on how to use them correctly.
But watch out! The word “used” in them is different from the verb “to use” which means to put into service or employ.
Example: “English speakers use lots of contractions.”
Now, keep on improving your English with a very nice song called: “Some things you never get used to” by the Supremes.
To get ready to understand the song, choose a language and revise the new vocabulary and structures:
English // French // Italian // Portuguese // Spanish
You can find the lyrics on this link, listen and read to make sure you understand the vocabulary.
I hope you enjoyed this lesson, see you soon!
Take care,
Written by: Victoria, Teacher from ABA English
It was the first time for me and
I loved the “Teacher’s Tips” “To be used to, to get used to, used to”.
I hope to receive others.
thank you very much
Thanks Claudia! We will be posting these most Fridays, but please feel free to look through our blog for more great lessons!
I find very interesting the “Teacher’s Trips” It helps me to improve my English.
Thank you very much for your idea and I hope to receive others
Very usefull lesson about your interesting tips. Thanks a lot . I hope to receive other tips. Victoria you’re fantastic for your great explanation.
Thanks Ivano! There will be another Teacher’s Tips this Friday so stay tuned in!
“To be used to”, “to get used to” and “used to” are quite commonly used in English.
Can you figure out the difference in meaning between the three
TO BE USED TO + gerund = something is normal, not unusual
(He lived in England for over a year, so he is used to driving on the left now.)
TO GET USED TO + gerund = the process of something becoming normal for us
(he has started working nights and is still getting used to sleeping during the day)
USED TO + infinitive = something that happened regularly in the past, but no longer happens
(I used to drive to work but now I take the bus)
= Something that was true, but no longer is
(There used to be a cinema in the town but now there isn’t)
Thank you for very nice lesson , it a good idea learn by music.
Thanks Mirko! How are you today?
Thank you!
“To be used to, to get used to, used to”
Hi Victoria,
you are a good teacher and your explanations are always interesting
I will wait your answer about meaning of “get used to”, “be used to” and “used to” and when we use each of them
Thank you very much
See you
Luigi
We hope to be sending the answers this Friday, Luigi! Thanks so much for your interest.
Hello Victoria, thanks for your tips!!! It will be very helpful for me to improve the correct use of language.
Some ideas about the difference between the three verbs suggested:
TO BE USED TO + -ing: something that is usual and normal to happen in the present situation
TO GET USED TO + -ing: something that will become usual and normal to happen, starting in the next future because we are working on it to become.
TO USED TO + infinitive: something that was usual and normal to happen in the past but it is not still valid.
I hope it is clear what I want to say.
I’ll wait for other replies and your response!
Thanks again
ps …now I’m going to listen the song!
Awesome Gina!
Thank you! It was very funny! I hope you’ll send me again!
It’s the first time I’m visitind this Blog. It will help me very much, and I need getting used and lose the shame to writing wrong.
Hi Antonio! Don’t feel ashamed of making mistakes. Learning a language is something to be proud off (so many people only speak one language and do not want to learn another!) and mistakes are part of the process. As we say in England, practice makes perfect!
I think that for an Italian person is very difficult to learn and use the English prhases of this lesson .Thank you
Very interesting lesson. Thanks also to Hildgund for his explanation.
It was a very interesting lessons!!
What is the difference between “To be used to”, “to get used to” and “used to”?
I’ll try to give you the answer..
1) TO BE USED TO + ing form = to say that something is usual
2) TO GET USED TO + ing form = to talk about the process of something becoming normal for us.
3) USED TO + infinitive form = for something that happened regularly in the past but no longer happens.
Good job Inés! Thanks
Hallo,
this is my first acces and I don’t understand very well. I’ am wainting of Victoria aswer.
By Claudia
p.s. the song is nice !
Ciao! Se hai un problema con il Flash Player, manda una mail a support_it@abaenglish.com, specificando il problema e cosa succede quando entri in un’unità.
Ti risponderanno il più presto possibile. Intanto, controlla se hai l’ultima versione del Flash, la 11.1.
Grazie!
Hi everybody,
I’m a new student and this is my first time in “teacher’s tips”. I really satisfied with this, it’s a good and funny way to learn english, and today I learned new words and how to use them.
Thank you an d see you soon on web.
Francesca
P.s Here in Verona we have – 5°. Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!Bye bye
Hi Francesca! Wow, that is very, very cold!! So happy you enjoyed them!