- "How long does it take?" is a full sentence in question form, while "how long it takes" is part of a sentence.
- Both "How long does it take?" and "how long it takes" talk about the time it takes to do something.
⏳ Wow, you bike to work every day? How long does it take?
⏲️ I'm not sure how long it takes to download this video.
What is the meaning of "how long does it take"?
"How long does it take" is a phrase used to ask how much time a certain action or process will take. You can use it on its own as a full sentence, or add more words using "for" or "to" to specify what action/process you're talking about. Here are some scenarios where you might use this phrase:
Waiting for a Service:
- "How long does it take for the repair to be completed?"
Travel and Commute:
- "How long does it take to drive from here to the airport?"
Cooking or Baking:
- "How long does it take to make pour-over coffee?"
Processes and Procedures:
- "How long does it take to get U.S. citizenship after applying?"
Learning or Mastering a Skill:
- "How long does it take to learn coding?"
How to use "how long it takes" in a sentence
"How long it takes" also talks about the time it takes to complete a certain action or process. However, it's not a complete sentence. It can be part of a question or a statement. You'll usually find it in the middle of a sentence. Same as "How long does it take?" you can add "to" or "for" to the phrase to specify what you're talking about.
Questioning Duration:
- "Do you know how long it takes to fly from New York to London?"
Inquiring about Processes:
- "I'm curious about how long it takes to receive the results of the medical test."
Planning and Scheduling:
- "When scheduling the meeting, consider how long it takes for everyone to arrive."
Understanding Time Frames:
- "I wonder how long it takes to build a house from start to finish."
Assessing Activities:
- "Do you know how long it takes to see noticeable results from working out?"
The use of "how long does it take" and "how long it takes" over time
The Ngram graph below shows how often "how long does it take" and "how long it takes" have been used from the 1800s to the 2000s. "How long it takes" has been increasing in use in the last 40 years, while "how long does it take" is not used as much.
Example sentences of "how long does it take"
- How long does it take to drive from here to the airport during rush hour?
- How long does it take for caffeine to wear off?
- How long does it take to learn to play the piano?
- How long does it take for the Earth to complete one orbit around the sun?
- How long does it take for blood pressure medication to work?
Example sentences of "how long it takes"
- Can you tell me how long it takes to drive from here to the airport during rush hour?
- I'm curious about how long it takes for a letter to reach its destination when sent by regular mail.
- Do you know how long it takes for the average person to learn a new language fluently?
- Could you please let me know how long it takes for the washing machine to complete a full cycle?
- I'm wondering how long it takes for the paint to dry on this canvas before I can start adding more layers.
What are other ways to say "how long does it take"?
- How much time does it take
- How much time is required
- How long would it take (for hypothetical situations)
- What's the time frame (for professional situations)
Want to sound like a native speaker?
Engram’s AI-powered grammar checker makes your English sound like a native speaker’s, suggesting natural English expressions on top of fixing grammar, spelling, punctuation, word order, and vocabulary.
References:
Share Article
