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Take

We can use take to say how much time we need to do something. Different structures are possible.

person + take + time + infinitive

When the person is the subject, we use the structure person + take + time + infinitive.

• He took 5 years to finish the project.
• I took three hours to get home.
• They took all day to clean the room.

activity + take + person + time + infinitive

The activity can be the subject

• The project took him five years to finish.
• The room took them all day to clean.
• The ferry took them two hours to unload.

It is also possible to begin these sentences with a preparatory it. The word order is as follows: it + take + person + time + infinitive

• It took him five years to finish the project.
• It took them all day to clean the room.