What Does “Accustom sb to doing sth” Mean?
“Accustom sb to doing sth” means to help someone get used to doing something regularly or naturally. It involves making a person comfortable with a new habit or routine.
Introduction
The phrase “Accustom sb to doing sth” is used to describe the process of helping someone become familiar or comfortable with a new activity or habit. For example, parents often accustom their children to waking up early or studying every day. Understanding the Accustom sb to doing sth meaning is important because it helps you talk about adjustment and adaptation in everyday life. This phrase is common in both spoken and written English and is useful when describing changes in behavior or routines. By mastering how to use it correctly, you can express how someone gradually learns or adapts to new situations.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: Accustom sb to doing sth (accustom somebody to doing something)
- Type: Transitive
- Level: B2
- Short meaning: To make someone used to a habit or activity
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Accustom” is a transitive verb and is usually followed by an object (sb = somebody) and then “to” plus a gerund (doing sth).
Common patterns include:
- Accustom + somebody + to + verb-ing
- Example: The teacher accustomed the students to reading aloud.
Note that you cannot separate “accustom” and “to doing”. It is an inseparable structure.
Examples
- My parents accustomed me to waking up early every day.
- It takes time to accustom new employees to working night shifts.
- The coach accustomed the players to practicing for two hours daily.
- Accustom sb to doing sth in a sentence: The school accustoms students to speaking English in class.
- She accustomed her dog to staying calm during thunderstorms.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: He accustomed to wake up early.
Correct: He accustomed himself to waking up early. - Incorrect: They accustomed the children doing homework.
Correct: They accustomed the children to doing homework. - Incorrect: Accustom the students for studying hard.
Correct: Accustom the students to studying hard.
Differences / Synonyms
Similar expressions include:
- Get used to doing sth: More informal and common in spoken English. It means the same as accustom sb to doing sth but often refers to oneself.
- Adapt to doing sth: Focuses more on adjusting to new conditions rather than habits.
- Familiarize sb with sth: Means to introduce someone to something new, but not necessarily to make it a habit.
Example: She got used to working late, but the manager accustomed her to following strict deadlines.
Common Collocations
- Accustom sb to new routines
- Accustom sb to hard work
- Accustom sb to early mornings
- Accustom sb to using technology
- Accustom sb to speaking in public
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of accustom sb to doing sth:
Real-life Dialogue
Anna: How do you help your children get ready for school so early?
Mark: We accustom them to waking up early by setting alarms and having a morning routine.
Anna: That sounds helpful. Does it take long?
Mark: At first, yes, but after a few weeks, they get used to it easily.
Practice
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the phrase “accustom sb to doing sth”:
- The trainer _______ the athletes _______ running long distances.
- It took a while to _______ myself _______ the cold weather.
- Parents should _______ their children _______ healthy eating habits.
FAQs
- Q: Can “accustom” be used without an object?
A: No, “accustom” needs an object (someone) to receive the action. - Q: Is “accustom sb to do sth” correct?
A: No, the correct form is “accustom sb to doing sth” with the gerund. - Q: What is the difference between “accustom” and “get used to”?
A: “Accustom” is more formal and often used with others, while “get used to” is informal and often about oneself. - Q: Can “accustom” be used in the passive voice?
A: Yes, for example, “She was accustomed to working late.” - Q: Is “accustom” common in everyday conversation?
A: It’s more common in written and formal English, while “get used to” is more common in speech.
