How do you use the verb USE The answer is in several different ways In this lesson I will explain how to use this common verb with lots of examples from everyday English We will also look at the difference between used and used to which can mean two very different things Thanks for watching Im Gill from wwwengvidcom and were having a lesson today on the verb to use which is quite an interesting verb and it is used in different ways So Im going to show you a few ways that we can use the verb to use Okay So use in the past tense used and we also talk about being used to so Ill be showing you some examples of the different ways of using used to Okay
Lets just start with the simple meaning Right to use something the simple meaning I use a computer at work Okay I have a computer on my desk I use it Its part of my job to use the computer Okay She uses a sat-nav in her car To help her find her direction how to go to somewhere when she doesnt know the way a sat-nav machine in her car She uses So obviously use uses depending on the person I use you use but hesheit uses We just add the s on the end in the present tense Okay And then just the past tense if I If I In the past I had a job where I used a computer at work so we could change that to past tense if we want to and say I used a computer at work just the same Okay So thats just the simple way of using use
So lets have a look at some more complicated ways of using this word And the first one is to get used to something And you may have noticed when I said that I made more of an s sound here used ss whereas with this one it has a sort of z to use Use but then when we come to this use used used to Okay So just remember there is a slight change of pronunciation when you say to get used to something And this is when youre adapting to a new situation to get used to Youre probably having to get used to the English language and all the complications in it and the new vocabulary that youre learning You have to get used to a new language adapt to it
Okay so looking at this first example maybe this is someone who has moved from a hot country to a cold one and theyre finding it very difficult in the winter because the winters are cold and long So they might say I cant get used to the long cold winters Its really difficult to adapt to get used to the long cold winters Okay And then this one maybe someone who has started a new job and there are a lot of new things to learn so theyre saying Theres a lot to learn in my new job but Im getting used to it Im adapting gradually Im getting used to it Okay So this is about adapting a gradual process of getting used to something Okay So thats getting used to something
And similarly to be used to Again its the s sound to be used to something is when you have adapted or it was Its always been like that Its normal its a regular situation So theres nothing new here Its something that youve always done or youve done for a long time so it feels normal So you say Im used to getting up early Im used to to be I am so thats part of the verb to be I am used to getting up early Im not used to getting up early but some people are I find it very difficult getting up early Oh dear especially in the long cold winters Mmm Okay Im used to getting well somebody He is used to getting up early Im not
Oh heres a negative one Hes not used to driving on the left Maybe someone whos moved countries again in his country they drive on the right so he moves to a country where they drive on the left how confusing and hes not used to driving on the left You can even have an accident if youre not used to it I think you have to practice quite carefully first Not used to driving his car on the left Okay
And then finally in this section again the weather in this country in the UK Were used to wet weather in the UK Okay We are used to wet weather It rains a lot especially in the autumn Okay And in the spring and in the winter and sometimes in the summer as well so its very It can be very wet here You may not want to come now Ive told you that but anyway Perhaps youre here already Anyway Were used to wet weather in the UK And the longer you spend here you Easier youll get used to it as well Okay so that is the first part of the lesson We have one more set of examples which well be covering next
