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43. How long does it take?

A: How long does it take to get from Tokyo I started reading the book two weeks ago.
to Los Angeles by plane? I finished it today.
B: It takes eleven hours. It took me two weeks to read it.
by plane?
Hoe long does it take to get from … to … by train?
by car?

two hours by plane.

It takes ten minutes to get from … to … by train.
a long time by car.
• How long does it take to get from Tokyo to Osaka by train?
Is takes three hours to get from Tokyo to Osaka by train.
• How long does it take to get from your house to the station by car?
It takes ten minutes to get from your house to the station by car.
did (You)
How long does it take (Ann) to (do something)?
will (them)

took ( me ) a week
It takes ( Ann ) a long time to ( do something ).
will take ( them ) three hours
• How long does it take to cross the Atlantic Ocean by ship?
• How long will it take me to learn to drive?
• “I came by train.” “Really? How long did it take?”
• Did it take you long time to find a job?
• It takes a long time to learn a language.
• It takes me20 minutes to get to work in the morning.
• It took Tom an hour to do the shopping.
• It will take me an hour to cook dinner.
• It doesn’t take long to cook an omelet.

Raymond Murphy. Essential Grammar in Use. Singapore : Cambridge University Press. 2002.
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Exercises
44.1 Write questions with how long does it take …?
1. (London / Madrid / by plane) How long does it take to get from London to Madrid by plane?
2. (Sao Paulo / Rio / by car) ...............................................................................................................?
3. (the city center / the airport / by bus)..............................................................................................?
4. ( Taiwan / Singapore / by plane) …………………………………………………………………..?
5. ( The station / the hotel / by taxi) …………………………………………………………………..?
6. ( Munich / Prague / by train) ………………………………………………………………………?
7. ( Florida / Puerto Rico / by ship) …………………………………………………………………..?
8. ( Your house / work / by bicycle)....................................................................................................?
44.2 Look at the timetable of flights from New York. How long does it take to
get to each place? Write sentences with it takes ….…
Arrive How long does it take to fly to:
From NEW YORK Depart
(New York time) 1. Miami? It takes three hours and five minutes.
MIAMI 8:40a.m. 11:45a.m. 2. Los Angeles? It ……………………………….
LOS ANGELES 10:00a.m. 3:50a.m. 3. Toronto? …………………………………........
TORONTO 9:10a.m. 10:40a.m. 4. Paris? ………………………………………….
PARIS 1:00a.m. 6:45p.m. 5. Mexico City? ………………………………….
MEXICO CITY 5:50p.m. 9:55p.m. 6. Honolulu? ……………………………………
HONOLULU 8:05p.m. 11:05p.m.
44.3 Write questions with how long did it take …?
1. She found a job. How long did it take her to find a job?
2. I walked to the station. …………………………………………….. you ……...………………….?
3. They cleaned the house. ………………………………………………………………………….?
4. I learned to swim. ………………………………………………………………………………….?
5. He found an apartment. ……………………………………………………………………………?
44.4 Write sentences with it took …?
1. (he read the book / two weeks) It took him two weeks to read the book.
2. (We walked home / an hour) ……………………………………………………………………….
3. (I learned to drive / a long time) …………………………………………………………………...
4. (They fixed the car / all day) ……………………………………………………………………….
5. Write a true sentence about yourself: ……………………………………………………………….

Raymond Murphy. Essential Grammar in Use. Singapore : Cambridge University Press. 2002.
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44.5 How long does it take (you) to do these things? Write complete sentences.
1. (Run five miles / kilometers?) It takes me about 30 minutes to run five kilometers.
2. (Take a shower?) ……………………………………………………………………………………
3. (Fly to New York from your country?) …………………………………………………………….
4. (Study to be a doctor in your country?) ............................................................................................
5. (Walk from your house to the nearest store?)
...................................................................................................................................................................

Raymond Murphy. Essential Grammar in Use. Singapore : Cambridge University Press. 2002.