be used to vs. used to

Now back in 2010 I wrote a blog post about the meaning and the way to use the expression used to. Today I will be looking at the difference between be+used to and used to.

BE + USED TO

This is what we say when people have adjusted to a change in their lives.

It was tough when I started my new job at first but I am used to it now.

Are you used to living in Japan yet?

In many cases, be will be replaced with get:

Oh you think it's noisy here? You'll get used to it.
(You will adapt to it.)

I couldn't get used to the smell of stinky tofu when I was in Taiwan.(I couldn't adjust and accept the smell)

USED TO + verb

This simply means that before X was true and now it isn't

I used to play tennis. (now I don't)

She used to work at Panasonic. (now she doesn't)

My company used to make a pomegranate jam. (now it doesn't - it was discontinued)

Be very careful not to mix these two up!

Any questions?

Phil

Cut to the chase.

Hey guys, have you heard that expression before? A chase is when someone runs away and someone else runs after them. You will often see chase scenes in action movies. Here's one from the Blues Brothers:




So, when someone says cut to the chase they mean get to the point. Stop dancing around the topic and tell me directly! Other expressions with similar meanings are: tell it to me straight and stop beating around the bush.

Ann: Well, umm, you know things have been tough...

Bob: Yeah?

Ann: And we've fought alot and, umm...

Bob: Ann, tell it to me straight! Stop beating around the bush, just say what you have to say!

Ann: I'm breaking up with you!

-----------

Employee: Sir, I have something I'd like to ask you if you have a moment. You see, I've been working really hard lately and putting in a lot of overtime and...

Boss: Get to the point, I don't have all day.

Employee: Yes Sir, I'd like a raise.

Boss: Times are tough but you've been doing good work how does 5% sound?

Employee: Thank you very much Sir!

------------

You should cut to the chase when asking for something.

Any questions? Have a nice day,


Phil

Stop Procrastinating!

I briefly talked about the verb to procrastinate back in June, 2010. It means to delay, to put something off. Whenever you say "I'll do it tomorrow" you are procrastinating!

A more casual way to say it is the idiom:

to drag your feet

When you don't want to do something you drag your feet. Think about when parents bring their kids to the dentist and they don't want to go... the Mom literally has to drag her kids feet~!

Stop dragging your feet! You shouldn't procrastinate so much.

Personally, I like to get things over with. This means when you have something you DON'T want to do it is better to do it right away. That way you can focus on something else.

Let's get this meeting over with, I have to get to the airport.

Another report to write?!?! I'll get it over with this weekend...

Any questions? Have a nice weekend!

Phil

Do they get on?

Hey everyone, I am watching a British TV show and the guy said:

Do they get on? (UK)

Which you'd NEVER hear in North America, we'd say:

Do they get along? (US/Canada)

To get along means that they get along WELL, they have a good relationship and rarely fight. If they don't get along it means that they don't like each other and they often fight or argue.

Just thought I'd share that, have a good day~!

Phil

Do you get it?

Hey everyone, time for a quick mini-lesson about the phrasal verb:

Get it

Which is pronounced: geddit.

Do you get it?

Means

Do you understand it?

It is most often used when talking about JOKES~!

A: Do you get it?

B: No, I don't get it. Do you?

C: Me neither. Why's he laughing so much?

A: Well, if none of us gets it, it can't be that funny...

It might also be used to simply say you don't understand something like a book or a piece of art, a song, etc... in which case we use don't get X.

I don't get why Britney Spears is so popular.

I don't get this book, it's gibberish.

Gibberish means 珍糞漢 (ちんぷんかん) or 痴れ言 (しれごと).

I don't get this painting...do you?

OK that's it for now. If you like click on the tag for get on the left side of the screen for more lessons about this useful verb!

Have a good week,

Phil

Do you guys get along?

Hey everyone, just a quick lesson on this rainy Sunday before I go make dinner ^_-

Do you usually get along with your classmates?

Get along is a phrasal verb that simply means two(or more) people have a good relationship with each other. They don't fight or dislike each other.

When we were kids my brother and I didn't get along... we fought like cats and dogs~!

Ugh, I don't get along with that guy. He's a total jerk.

Since we shared an apartment, we don't get along anymore. I can't stand him, he's an idiot and a slob.

My girlfriend and I get along great! We hardly ever argue or fight ^_^

Here's a bonus phrasal verb:

get by

This means:

-to survive

I'm just getting by since I lost my job.
The money I have is just enough for me to live and survive.

She gets by on her looks.
She survives/lives based on her appearance.

-to pass someone/something

Excuse me, could you move so I can get by?
Excuse me, can you move so I can pass you?

or

A few mistakes got by my editor into the book.
A couple of mistakes got passed my editor into the book.

-to achieve the minimum necessary

In high school, he just got by.
He had passing grades only.

OK that is all for now!

Phil

Go & get...

Ok, today we will talk about the difference between go and get...

GO

This means LEAVE for somewhere. The focus is on departing a place.

work -----> home

What time do you go home?

I go home at 7pm.

Meaning I leave work at 7pm to start on my way home.

GET

This means to ARRIVE somewhere. The focus is on arriving.

work -----> home

What time do you get home?

I get home at 7:45pm.

Meaning I arrive at home at 7:45, so it takes me 45 minutes to travel from my office to my home.

I hope that helped explained the difference between the two~!

Have a nice day everyone and good luck in your studies,

Phil