Basics. Asking About Duration: How Long Does It Take?: correct answers
Jump to answers ↓When you want to ask about the amount of time required to do something, English uses a very specific set phrase: "How long does it take?"
While it might seem tempting to translate directly from your native language and ask things like "How much time need?", the "take" formula is the most natural and grammatically correct way to ask about duration in English.
The Basic Formula
The standard question follows a strict word order: How long + does + it + take + to + [base verb]?
- How long: The question word for duration.
- does: The auxiliary (helping) verb. We use does because the subject of the sentence is it.
- it: The "dummy" subject. It doesn't refer to a specific object; it just holds the place of the subject.
- take: The main verb, always in its base form.
- to + verb: The infinitive form of the action you are asking about.
✅ How long does it take to learn the guitar? ❌ How long time does it take to learn the guitar? (Don't add the word "time" after "How long")
✅ How long does it take to bake a cake? ❌ How long does it takes to bake a cake? (The "s" goes on "does", so "take" must remain in its base form)
Adding a Specific Person
Sometimes you want to ask how much time a specific person needs to do something. For example, a professional might take 10 minutes to fix a tire, but a beginner might take an hour.
To add a person to the question, place the object pronoun (me, you, him, her, us, them) directly after the verb take.
How long + does + it + take + [person] + to + [base verb]?
- "How long does it take you to get to work?"
- "How long does it take her to run a marathon?"
Answering the Question
When replying, use the same structure in the positive form. Because the subject is it and the sentence is in the present simple tense, the verb becomes takes.
It + takes + [optional person] + [amount of time] + to + [base verb].
- "It takes twenty minutes to drive to the beach."
- "It takes me half an hour by train."
Common Mistakes to Watch Out For
1. Forgetting the dummy subject "it" Because "it" doesn't translate well into many languages in this context, learners often drop it entirely. You must always include it. ✅ How long does it take to make dinner? ❌ How long does take to make dinner?
2. Using the wrong auxiliary verb Remember that we are using the present simple tense with the singular subject it. Therefore, the auxiliary must be does. Do not use is or do. ✅ How long does it take to finish the homework? ❌ How long is it take to finish the homework?
3. Forgetting the "to" before the action The action at the end of the question must be a full infinitive (to + verb). ✅ How long does it take to walk to campus? ❌ How long does it take walk to campus?
Correct answers
Question 1
"It _________________________ about twenty minutes by bus."
"How long does it take to get to campus?"
"It takes about twenty minutes by bus."
We use the phrase "How long does it take" to ask about the duration of a trip or activity. Because "it" is singular, we use "takes" in the answer!
Question 2
Help the excited teenagers plan their beach trip by dragging the correct words into their conversation.
"How long does it take to drive to the beach?"
"It takes about two hours, so we should leave soon!"
How long does it take to drive to the beach?
We use the question word "long" to ask about the duration or amount of time something requires.
How long does it take to drive to the beach?
The standard phrase is "does it take." We use the base verb "take" because the auxiliary verb "does" already shows the tense.
It takes about two hours, so we should leave soon!
When answering, we add an "s" to the verb ("takes") because the subject is the third-person singular pronoun "It".
Question 3
"I don't know, but it usually _________________________ me two hours!"
"How long does it take to finish this math worksheet?"
"I don't know, but it usually takes me two hours!"
The grammar structure is: How long does it take + to + base verb. In the answer, we say It takes + (person) + time.
Question 4
Complete the hungry student's interview with the pastry chef by dragging the right words into the blanks.
"Excuse me, chef! How long does it take to bake a chocolate cake?"
"Usually, it takes forty-five minutes."
Excuse me, chef! How long does it take...
Because the subject is "it", we must use the singular auxiliary verb "does" to form the question.
...take to bake a chocolate cake?
We use "to" + the base verb (the infinitive) after the phrase "it takes" to explain the action being done.
Usually, it takes forty-five minutes.
We measure the duration of time in seconds, minutes, or hours. "Clocks" are the objects that tell time, not the measurement itself!
Question 5
The correct answers are How long does it take to get to the campus? and How long does it take you to walk to school?
When asking about the duration of an action, we use the structure: How long + does + it + take + (person) + to + verb.
"How long it takes" is missing the helper verb "does", and "does take it" has the wrong word order!
Question 6
Help the excited friends plan their road trip to the beach by choosing the correct word.
"How long _____ it take to drive to the coast?" asked Sarah, already packing her sunglasses.
The correct answer is does.
When asking about the time needed for an action in the present simple tense, we use the auxiliary verb does because the subject is the singular pronoun "it" ("How long does it take...?").
Question 7
The correct answers are How long does it take to make dinner? and How long does it take to bake the pizza?
In English, we just say "How long" when asking about time duration. Saying "How long time" is a very common mistake! Also, because the subject is "it", we must use "does", not "do".
Question 8
Complete the hungry teenager's question to the pastry chef.
"This smells amazing! How long does _____ take to bake a giant chocolate cake?"
The correct answer is it.
We use the "dummy" subject it in the fixed phrase "How long does it take...?" to talk about time and duration.
Question 9
Alex: Usually, it _________________________ an hour, but for you... maybe three hours!
Sam: I want to bake a chocolate cake. How long does it take to make one?
Alex: Usually, it takes an hour, but for you... maybe three hours!
"How long" asks about time. We use the auxiliary verb "does" with the singular subject "it" in the question, and we add an "-s" to the main verb ("takes") in the affirmative answer.
Question 10
Choose the right word to complete the impatient musician's question.
"I want to be a rock star by next Tuesday. How long does it _____ to learn the guitar?"
The correct answer is take.
In present simple questions with the auxiliary verb "does", the main verb must be in its base form (infinitive without "to"). Therefore, we use take, not "takes" or "taking".
Question 11
The correct answers are How long does it take to learn the guitar? and How long does it take to play a simple song?
Always use the base verb (infinitive) with "to" after "take" in this phrase: How long does it take to learn...
We do not add an "s" to the main verb ("takes") when we already have "does" in the question, and we don't use the "-ing" form ("learning") here.
Question 12
Help the new employee figure out her morning commute by dragging the correct words into the text messages.
"How long does it take you to get to the office?"
"It takes me half an hour by train."
How long does it take you to get to the office?
We use the "dummy" pronoun "it" as the subject when talking about time, weather, and distance.
It takes me half an hour by train.
After the verb "takes", we need to use an object pronoun. "Me" is the correct object pronoun, while "I" is a subject pronoun and "my" is a possessive adjective.
It takes me half an hour by train.
The phrase "half an hour" is the standard way to say thirty minutes in English.