it take years

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it take years" is not correct in written English.
The correct form should be "it takes years" to agree with the subject. Example: "It takes years to master a new language."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Will it take years before the animal spirits revive?

The New York Times

Sometimes it take years to determine which team benefits the most from a trade.

The New York Times

Why did it take years to launch something that seems pretty simple?

TechCrunch

The percentage of iOS users on the newest builds is also a point Apple can hold over Android, whose limitation-filled carrier deals make it take years for firmware updates to trickle down.

TechCrunch

It take years for the landscape to fill in.

WikiHow

Insurance Companies use these millions of dollars to hire lawyers for sometimes less than $100 per hour to fight claims and drag out the litigation process to make it take years and make cases not go to trial all in an effort to save a few more thousand dollars per wreck.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

It takes years and years.

The New York Times

It takes years of practice".

The New York Times

"For some, it takes years.

The New York Times - Sports

It took years to build".

The New York Times

But it takes years to build credibility.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the correct grammatical form, "it takes years", to ensure clarity and credibility in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "it take years" due to subject-verb disagreement. "It" is a singular subject and requires the singular verb form "takes".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it take years" is an incorrect construction attempting to express the duration needed for something. The correct form is "it takes years". As Ludwig AI indicates, the example usages are incorrect due to subject-verb disagreement.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

33%

Science

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it take years" is grammatically incorrect due to subject-verb disagreement. The correct form is "it takes years". While examples of the incorrect phrase appear in sources like The New York Times, TechCrunch, and The Guardian, Ludwig AI flags the error. To avoid this, remember that the singular subject "it" requires the singular verb form "takes". Alternatives like "it requires years" or "years are needed" can also be used. Always prioritize correct grammar for clear and credible communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it requires years

Replaces the verb "take" with "require", emphasizing necessity over duration.

it necessitates years

Substitutes "take" with "necessitates", highlighting the indispensable nature of the time period.

a long time is needed

Shifts the focus to the time itself, rather than the action, and uses a passive construction.

years are needed

Focuses on the length of time.

years are required

Emphasizes the necessity of multiple years, rather than just time in general.

it demands years

Replaces "take" with "demands", stressing the demanding nature of the task or process.

it spans several years

Focuses on the duration covering multiple years, good to mean a prolonged period.

the process extends over years

Highlights the lengthy and extended nature of a process.

a considerable amount of time is necessary

Uses a more formal and descriptive way to express the need for a long time.

substantial time frame is involved

Uses a more sophisticated way to say that something happens over time.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "it take years"?

The correct form is "it takes years". The subject "it" is singular, so the verb must be "takes" instead of "take".

What does "it takes years" mean?

It means that a significant amount of time, specifically multiple years, is needed to achieve something or for something to happen.

Are there other ways to express that something needs a long time?

Yes, you can say "it requires years", "years are needed", or "a long time is needed".

Why is "it take years" grammatically incorrect?

The phrase "it take years" is grammatically incorrect because the singular subject "it" requires the singular form of the verb, which is "takes". Thus, the correct form is "it takes years".