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Anonymous Posted 20 years ago
Grammar

Confusing verbs

What parts of speech are there in:

I was used to being told what to do at the factory.

I am confused by all the different verbs in the sentence.
Many thanks.

Mary
  

Top answer

[EDIT] was used to means I was accustomed to reflects past familiarity with something Peaple always told me what to do at the factory. I was accustomed to it. is a translation.

— Marius Hancu

  • [EDIT] was used to means I was accustomed to reflects past familiarity with something Peaple always told me what to do at the factory.
  • I was accustomed to it.
  • is a translation.
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7 Answers
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[EDIT]

was used to
means I was accustomed to
reflects past familiarity with something

Peaple always told me what to do at the factory. I was accustomed to it.
is a translation.
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to be used to something means to be familiar with a situation: I was told what to do.

to be used to something, that is why gerund: being told

Being told is the gerund form of 'to be told'.

to be told what to do.
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Marius Hancuwas used to
means I had the habit of
reflects past habits

Peaple always told me what to do at the factory.
is a translation.

I do not think so

'used to' without 'be' refers to past habits

I did not use to be used to being told what to do
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I think I am right (OK, I've changed it a bit):
I am used to: I am accustomed to
I was used to: I was accustomed to

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    I can undersatnd the meaning, but what tense are the verbs please?

    I was used to being told what to do.

    Past perfect, gerund, past simple, present simple??
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    I can't be sure but I think there is only one verb/verb phrase in this sentence.

    I + was used to + being told + what + to do + at the factory.

    pronoun + verb phrase + noun (gerund phrase) + direct object (pronoun?) + infinitive phrase + prepositional phrase
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    was used
    the main verb,
    is simple past tense
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