ing & verb

Question

Hi I am used to working harder.I used to work hard.The above seem to me correct in my opinion.But, Can you explain why the first one use –ing and second verb.Thank you in advance.

Avangi · Accepted Answer

These are two totally different senses of the word "used," neither of which is the simple transitive verb "to use." (I used my knife to eat my peas.)

"I am used to working harder" = "I am accustomed to working harder."

"I used to work hard" = "I previously/formerly worked hard." (in the past)

In the first one, "working" is object of the preposition, which calls for a noun or gerund. In the second one, "work" is the infinitive form.

- A.

Mbouti · Answer

Hi

My question is if I can say "I am used to work harder & I used to working hard." though I understand the different meaning.

Thank you.

Avangi · Answer

mbouti My question is if I can say "I am used to work harder & I used to working hard."

In the first one, "no," because the verb can't serve as object of the preposition "to." It's ungrammatical. In the second one, "no," because your sentence has no verb. (also very ungrammatical) That is, the first one calls for a noun and the second one calls for a verb. You have the opposite.

Mbouti · Answer

Hi

Can I understand the second one "used to" is auxiliary verb? So I used to work .. is right one to use verb in the sentence.

Avangi · Answer

I need help on this, mbouti. I'm not sure if "used" is considered part of the verb form in this case, or not.

"I used to work hard" is very similar in meaning to "I was working hard." This is past progressive tense, I believe. "Was" is an auxilliary, or helping verb, but as you can see, we use the present participle of the verb "to work," which is "working." This may be confusing to you, because "working" is also the gerund (noun) in your sentence "I'm used to working hard."

"Used to" surely seems to function like an auxilliary verb, but I can't give you an authoratative answer on it.

Your question is a really interesting one because "working" can be a noun (gerund) or a part of the verb form, and "to" can be a preposition or a part of the verb form (infinitive marker).

I'm sure someone will come along who can give you a more satisfying answer.

Best wishes, - A.

CalifJim · Answer

mbouti1. I am used to working hard(er).

2. I used to work hard(er).

These are two different grammatical patterns with two different meanings.
1. be used to ---ing means be accustomed to -ing.
I am used to working hard talks about your ablity to work hard because you have worked hard so often before. It suggests that you are comfortable in a situation where you are working hard. It suggests that working hard comes easily and naturally to you.
You can use this expression in all the tenses:
I am used to working hard. I was used to working hard. I will be used to working hard. I have been used to working hard. And so on.
For this idiom you must have a form of the verb to be followed by the exact words used to.
______

2. used to --- means regularly or habitually in the past.
I used to work hard talks about a period of time in the past when you had the habit of working hard.
You cannot change the tense of this expression. It is always in the simple past: used to, didn't use to, etc.
______
Examples:
I have drunk wine quite often. I didn't like it at first, but now I do. I have become accustomed to it. Now I am used to drinking wine.
Years ago I was not very good at playing the guitar. I had not had much practice. Playing the guitar had not yet become a natural and comfortable habit for me. I was not used to playing the guitar.
If I practice skiing every day, I think I will be used to skiing by December. That is, I believe that skiing will come naturally to me by then.
___
When Karen was a child she used to live one block from school. It was her habit to walk to school every day. That is, she used to walk to school every day.
You look familiar. Didn't you use to work at IBM? (Wasn't working at IBM something that you did regularly during some period of time in the past?)
I used to walk five miles a day. (There was a period of time in the past when I had the habit of walking five miles every day.) Now I don't walk more than one mile a day.
Mike didn't use to like children until he became a father.
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<<< Can I say "I am used to work harder & I used to working hard." >>>
No. No. No.
The idiom that contains a form of to be (am, is, are, was, were, ...) must have the ---ing.
The idiom that does not contain a form of to be must not have the ---ing.
CJ

Avangi · Answer

Thanks, CJ

ing & verb

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