| IT TAKES + INFINITIVE |
|---|
Use it takes to indicate a quantity of time required for anyone to complete a task (job). The amount may be an estimation (a guess) or an exact, known quantity. |
It takes an hour to get ready for school in the morning. |
It takes 10 minutes to shower. |
It takes 30 minutes to walk to school. |
It takes just a few seconds to reach the 2nd floor. |
| IT TAKES + INDIRECT OBJECT + INFINITIVE |
|---|
It takes may be used to indicate a quantity of time required for a particular person to complete a task (job). |
It takes Jill an hour to
get ready for school in the morning. |
It takes Jill 10 minutes to
put on her makeup. |
It takes us 30
minutes to
walk to school. |
It takes her just a few seconds to reach the 2nd floor. |
| IT TAKES + INFINITIVE |
|---|
It takes with a quantity of something (count or noncount) expresses how much is needed to complete a task (job). The amount may be a guess or an exact, known quantity. |
It takes a lot of newspaper to house-train a puppy. |
It takes three yards of material to make a dress. |
It takes fifteen gallons of gas to fill the tank of this car. |
It takes a lot of love to
raise children. a noncount abstract noun |
| NO INDIRECT OBJECT |
|---|
It takes is NOT used with an indirect object before a quantity of matter (solids, liquids or gases) or with abstractions. |
*It takes anyone a lot of newspaper to house-train a puppy. |
*It takes you three yards of material to make a dress. |
*It takes me fifteen gallons of gas to fill the tank of this car. |
*It takes us a lot of love to raise children. |
It takes is also used with abstractions: love, patience, knowledge, kindness, etc.
*Yellow highlighted words are examples of incorrect usage.
| ERROR | SOLUTION |
|---|---|
*It takes me six eggs to make this cake. |
It takes [me] six eggs to make this cake. An indirect object may be used with time phrases.. |
*It is taking six eggs to make this cake. |
It takes six eggs to make this cake. Progressive tense is not used in this expression. |
*It's take six eggs to make this cake. |
It takes six eggs to make this cake. subject-verb agreement error |
Related page Spelling out numbers
Tomorrow, I will be pressed for time, but if I schedule things, I can get them all done. I'll need to do a few extra things.
At 7:30, I will get up, shower, and get dressed. (30 minutes)
Next, I will eat breakfast, eat and read through my email. (30 minutes)
After that, I will have to drive to the gas station and fill up my car. (15 gallons / 56 liters)
The fuel will probably cost me around $60 / 80€.
Then, I will stop by the bank to get some cash ($200). I need to pay my utilities bill tomorrow. ($150)
Next, I will drive to work and spend the morning and afternoon in a company-review meeting.
We will need several cups of coffee to stay alert.
I will need a lot of concentration to get through such a long meetings.
At five, I will go to the gym and lift weights for a couple hours with friends.
I'll make an omelet for dinner(a few eggs) That should satisfy my appetite.
I should spend just a few minutes on the computer, but I usually end up spending over an hour reading my email and catching up with friends.
Last, I will fall into bed and probably be asleep in a few seconds.
alert (adj.) – awake and clear-thinking
appetite (n.) – hunger
concentration (n.) – staying focused; paying close attention
end up (verb expression) – result in
firm (n.) – strong; not weak
satisfy (v.) – meet the requirement or need; be enough
tasks (n.) – small jobs, chores
utilities bill (n.) – charge for gas, electricity and water usage
My little brother, Jimmy is so slow before school. It's taking him forever in the morning to get dressed. He sits and stares at his clothes, but he doesn't put them on. It takes him a lot of energy just to get his pants and shirt on.
For me, it takes me five minutes to eat my breakfast. It takes for him fifteen minutes to eat his breakfast — five minutes to choose it and ten mintues to eat it.
Then, it takes him a lot of time in the bathroom to brush his teeth. Mom always reminds him to hurry up because it takes us a while to get to school if there is traffic.
My mom takes a lot of patience to wait for him all the time. It takes a big brother like me to look after him. — Jessie
patience (n.) – being able to wait for something or someone without becoming angry
stare (v.) – look at something for a long time, especially with eyes wide open
My partner and I made a bridge from toothpicks for our science class. We had to made a bridge that could support four bricks. The followings is what is needed to build a bridge from toothpicks:
brick (n.) – a red, rectangular block of clay; used for building
materials (n.) – things, parts that will make up the bridge (toothpicks and glue)
persistence (n.) – being able to stay with the project, try again and again
toothpick (n.) – a little stick of wood for cleaning food from the teeth
scale (n.) – relative size of the parts to the whole
The Toothpick Bridge Link