This phrase is used to express the duration or length of time required to do something.
Here's a comprehensive breakdown:
1. Basic Structure
The fundamental structure for expressing length of time with "it takes" is:
It + takes / took / will take + (someone) + time + to + infinitive verb
* "It": This is a dummy pronoun (sometimes called an "expletive it" or "preparatory it"). It doesn't refer to a specific noun but rather introduces the idea of time duration.
* "takes / took / will take": The verb "take" conjugated according to the tense (present, past, future, etc.).
* "(someone)": This is optional. If you want to specify who is doing the action, you can include an object pronoun (me, him, her, us, them, you) or a noun/name (John, the students).
* "time": This is the duration (e.g., an hour, five minutes, a long time, several days).
* "to + infinitive verb": This specifies the action for which the time is required.
2. Common Tenses and Examples
a) Simple Present: "It takes" (for general truths, habits, or typical durations)
* It takes 20 minutes to walk to the station. (General truth)
* It takes me a long time to finish my homework. (Habit)
* How long does it take to learn a new language?
* It takes years to become fluent.
b) Simple Past: "It took" (for past actions)
* It took us three hours to drive from Istanbul to Bursa yesterday.
* It took her a week to recover from the flu.
* How long did it take you to build that model?
* It took me about two days.
c) Simple Future: "It will take" (for future actions)
* It will take about an hour to cook dinner.
* It will take them some time to adjust to the new system.
* How long will it take to repair the car?
* It will take at least a day.
d) Present Perfect: "It has taken" (for actions that started in the past and continue to the present, or whose duration is relevant to the present)
* It has taken me three months to write this book so far. (Still writing)
* It has taken a lot of effort to get to this point. (The effort's effect is current)
* How long has it taken them to decide?
* It has taken them over two weeks.
e) Present Continuous: "It is taking" (for ongoing actions where time is currently being consumed)
* It is taking longer than I expected to fix the computer. (It's still in the process of being fixed)
* It is taking us all day to clean the house.
* How long is it taking you to prepare for the exam?
f) Other Modals (can, could, should, might, etc.)
* It can take ages to get a visa for some countries. (Possibility/general truth)
* It could take a few more days to get the results. (Possibility)
* It shouldn't take you more than an hour to complete this task. (Expectation)
3. Variations and Important Points
* Omitting "(someone)": If the doer of the action is obvious or irrelevant, you can omit "someone."
* It takes two hours to fly from London to Rome. (No need to specify "us" or "people")
* Questions: To ask about duration, use "How long...?"
* How long does it take to get there?
* How long did it take them to build the pyramid?
* Negative sentences:
* It doesn't take long to learn the basics.
* It didn't take her much effort.
* "Time" can be general: You can use general terms for time like "a long time," "ages," "a while," "a bit," "forever" (informal exaggeration).
* It takes a while to master a skill.
* Alternative order (less common, but possible for emphasis): You can sometimes put the action first, but it often sounds less natural:
* To get to the station takes 20 minutes. (Less common than "It takes 20 minutes to get to the station.")
4. Common Mistakes to Avoid
* Missing "it": Don't say "Takes 20 minutes to walk." Always include "It."
* Incorrect tense of "take": Ensure "take" matches the tense you are expressing (takes, took, will take, etc.).
* Using gerund instead of infinitive: It's always "to + infinitive," not "-ing."
* Incorrect: "It takes 20 minutes walking."
* Correct: "It takes 20 minutes to walk."
* Forgetting "to" before the infinitive:
* Incorrect: "It takes me a long time finish my homework."
* Correct: "It takes me a long time to finish my homework."
By mastering the "it takes" construction, you'll be able to express durations
of time clearly and correctly in a wide range of situations.
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