Does GET USED TO always take a direct object with it or not?

[The apprentice]

Dear teachers and members:


I have learned that BE USED TO must be followed by a noun of a verb in its gerund form, but I have noticed that when BE USED TO is followed by a noun, it takes it (the noun) as a direct object, and I think that when it is followed by a verb in its gerund form, it also takes a direct object most of the time or all of the time.

1) I'm used to dominican food (Noun)
1a) I'm used to eating dominican food. (Verb)

2) She is used to a lonely life
2b) She's used to living alone. (Verb)

3) They're used to New York lifestyle.
3c) They're used to living in New York.

4) He's used to lies
4d) He's used to lying (to others).

I find that in the below quote a direct object is needed in order to complete its meaning, or something is incorrect.

''Changes only happen when we go against everything we're used to doing''.

PAULO COELHO.


QUESTIONS.

1°) Is it the 4d sentence correct?

2°) Does the 4d sentence need a direct object?

3°) Is there something ungrammatical in the Paulo Coelho's quote?


Please, your help and assistance will be deeply appreciated.

 

[5jj]

''Changes only happen when we go against everything we're used to doing''.
''Changes only happen when we go against everything we're used to''.

Both of those are fine. In the second, the object of we're used to is the that/which of the relative clause, which we are free to omit.

 

[Tdol]

2) She is used to a lonely life
2b) She's used to living alone. (Verb)

These don't necessarily have the same meaning- lonely is negative, while many people enjoy living alone.

 

[5jj]

In the temporary absence of the 'like' facility, I'll say that I agree with Tdol. I live alone, but I am not lonely.

 

[The apprentice]

Dear 5jj:

Does BE USED TO take a direct object with it?

 

[5jj]

It depends on how you analyse it. If you regard to as a preposition, then it's the preposition that takes the object. If you regard BE used to as a multi-word verb, the it takes a direct object. There are certain verb phrases, such as HAVE to, BE supposed to, ought to, among others, in which some writers find it convenient to think of the to as part of the verb.

 

[The apprentice]

Thank you 5jj:


I consider TO as part of the verb BE USED TO, so now I know that it takes a direct object.

That was very good from you, you're good at giving English answers!

Are you an English linguist?


My regards.

 

[Rover_KE]

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