phrase · neutral
It takes + O + longer + to V1 + than + to V2
Compare durations: one activity needs more time than another.
Examples
“It takes students longer to finish laboratory work than to read a chapter.”
“For many people, it takes longer to find affordable housing than to find a job.”
“It takes me longer to commute now that I live farther from the city centre.”
Band 8 sentence
“In my experience, it takes far longer to integrate into a new community than to master the language of that community.”
Collocations
- It takes someone longer to + V
- It takes longer to + V than to + V
Common mistakes
It takes me more long to finish the task than to start it.→It takes me longer to finish the task than to start it.
It takes me longer to finishing the task than to start.→It takes me longer to finish the task than to start it.
Say it for a higher band
5I spend more time to do X than Y→6It takes more time to do X than Y→7+It takes me longer to do X than to do Y
Synonyms
require more time
take longer than
Easily confused
It takes longer to + V than + to + V
“It takes longer to prepare a full meal than to order takeout.”
Related words
Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.
In Comparatives
Learn it with its set