Grammar · Past & Perfect Tenses
Used To, Get Used To & Be Used To
Used to is for the past. Be used to and get used to are about what feels normal. Learn them with the film Toy Story 5.
Grammar › Past & Perfect Tenses › Used To, Get Used To & Be Used To
The rule in one sentenceSay used to + verb for a habit that has stopped, and be used to + -ing for something that now feels normal – get used to is the change in the middle.
About the film
Toy Story 5 is a Pixar film from 2026. Eight-year-old Bonnie used to play with her toys every day. Then her parents give her a frog tablet called Lilypad, and she starts to forget about her toys. Jessie, now the leader of Bonnie’s toys, isn’t used to this at all, so she asks Woody for help.
What does it do?
These three phrases look almost the same, but they do different jobs. Used to looks back at the past. Be used to and get used to talk about how normal something feels.
Use used to + verb for something that was true before, but isn’t true now. Use be used to + -ing or a noun when something is normal for you, so it doesn’t surprise you. Use get used to for the change: something new slowly starts to feel normal.
Look at the first two tiles. The first one is about the past, and that habit has stopped. The second one is about now: being the favourite feels normal to Jessie.
Bonnie used to play with her toys all afternoon. Now the toys are slowly getting used to a quiet bedroom.
The first sentence looks back at an old habit. The second shows a change that is still happening.
Visual guide
Teacher Teddy’s illustrated guide to this rule is being drawn — the full swipe-through infographic will appear here soon.
How to make it
used to — an old habit
Bonnie used to take Jessie everywhere.
Bonnie didn’t use to spend hours on a screen.
After didn’t, write use to, with no -d.Did Bonnie use to play with Buzz too?
Did + subject + use to + verb.be used to — it feels normal
Jessie is used to helping the other toys.
The toys aren’t used to a silent room.
A noun can come after it too.Is Woody used to solving problems like this?
Change “be” for the time: was used to, will be used to.When to use each one
used to — it was true, but not now
be used to — it is normal now
Words that help: then or now?
Some words often go with each form. They can help you choose.
used to → the past, now stopped
be used to → normal for me now
Common mistakes
❌ Jessie is used to lead the toys.
✅ Jessie is used to leading the toys.
After be used to, use the -ing form, not the base verb.
❌ Bonnie didn’t used to ignore her toys.
✅ Bonnie didn’t use to ignore her toys.
After didn’t, the -d goes: use to.
❌ Bonnie used to playing with Jessie.
✅ Bonnie used to play with Jessie.
For an old habit, use used to + the base verb.
❌ I use to watch films on Fridays.
✅ I usually watch films on Fridays.
Used to is only for the past. For a habit now, use the present simple.
One more thing
This part is a little harder. You can come back to it later.
Would can also talk about old habits – but only actions. You can say “every day, Bonnie would take Jessie to the park”. But for a state, like where you lived or what you liked, only used to works.
✅ Bonnie used to love her cowgirl doll. (a state)
❌ Bonnie would love her cowgirl doll. (wrong for a past state)
Practice: choose the right form
Eight questions. Choose one answer. You get the answer, and why.
1. Bonnie ___ play with her toys every day, but she doesn’t now.
An old habit that has stopped → used to + verb.
2. Jessie ___ being the leader of the toys.
It feels normal to her now → be used to + -ing.
3. Did Bonnie ___ take Jessie to school?
After did, write use to, with no -d.
4. The toys aren’t used to ___ alone all day.
After be used to, use the -ing form.
5. Woody ___ live in Andy’s room.
A past fact that is not true now → used to.
6. Bonnie ___ spend so much time on a screen.
Used to is only for the past → didn’t use to.
7. After a few weeks, the toys slowly ___ the quiet.
A change that happens slowly → get used to.
8. I ___ walk to school when I was a child.
A childhood habit that has stopped → used to.
Your turn
Choose one ending. Then listen to your sentence.
Every sentence here is correct. Pick the one that is true for you. Say it out loud too!
Keep going
This film’s lesson
More lessons
Now hear it in the film
You have just learned used to and get used to with Toy Story 5. Now hear the whole film explained in English.
The full listening episode on the same film — a slow, clear movie review with the language used in real speech, and a free transcript.
BeginnerBonus episodeWatch on YouTube