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  1. #1
    terrenziqq's Avatar
    terrenziqq is offline Junior Member
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    Default was used to/used to/was accustomed to

    Do they differ from one another in meaning?
    Or do they mean the same thing with one another?

    Sorry for my rough content . I want to know if "be used/ accustomed to" was written in past tense form, how do they differ from "used to" in meaning?
    Ex:
    I used to play tennis a lot.
    I was used to playing tennis a lot.
    I was accustomed to playing tennis a lot.
    Do the above examples differ in meaning from one another,or is there no such usage like sentence two and three(was/were + used/accustomed to + N./Ving)?
    Last edited by terrenziqq; 10-Jun-2011 at 03:58.

  2. #2
    Mannysteps is offline Member
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    Default Re: was used to/used to/was accustomed to

    Not a teacher

    Although pretty close in concept, I think there is a slight difference:

    "Used to" expresses the following infinitive as something the subject did habituallly in the past, Compare the following:

    "He plays tennis regularly" (present habit)
    "He used to play tennis regularly" (past habit)

    "Accustomed to" expresses adaptation to a frequent situation or condition:

    "He is accustomed to an easy life"

    It also takes the present participle, rather than the infinitive:

    "She's accustomed to being alone"

    Humbly, expecting further elucidation,
    M.

  3. #3
    5jj's Avatar
    5jj
    5jj is offline Moderator
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    Default Re: was used to/used to/was accustomed to

    Quote Originally Posted by terrenziqq View Post
    Do they differ from one another in meaning?
    Or do they mean the same thing with one another?
    Please use the title of your thread as a title, and ask the complete question in the message itself.

    Mannystep's answer is basically correct, though the ing-form following be accustomed to is a gerund, not a present participle.

    be used to has a similar meaning to be accustomed to; both can be followed by a noun, pronoun, or gerund.

  4. #4
    terrenziqq's Avatar
    terrenziqq is offline Junior Member
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    Default Re: was used to/used to/was accustomed to

    Quote Originally Posted by fivejedjon View Post
    Please use the title of your thread as a title, and ask the complete question in the message itself.

    Mannystep's answer is basically correct, though the ing-form following be accustomed to is a gerund, not a present participle.

    be used to has a similar meaning to be accustomed to; both can be followed by a noun, pronoun, or gerund.

    Sorry for my rough content . I want to know if "be used/ accustomed to" was written in past tense form, how do they differ from "used to" in meaning?
    Ex:
    I used to play tennis a lot.
    I was used to playing tennis a lot.
    I was accustomed to playing tennis a lot.
    Do the above examples differ in meaning from one another,or is there no such usage like sentence two and three(was/were + used/accustomed to + N./Ving)?

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