require a lot of time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "require a lot of time" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when you want to refer to something that takes a significant amount of time to complete. For example: "Studying for exams can require a lot of time, so it's important to start studying early."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

42 human-written examples

It does require a lot of time and effort but the results are worth it.

The Guardian

Indian instruments from the Carnatic tradition also require a lot of time to master.

The New York Times - Arts

The bad news is that learning how to make those touch-ups can require a lot of time and practice.

The New York Times - Tech

Start-ups with high barriers to entry present complex ideas that may require a lot of time, money and effort, and therefore face less competition.

The New York Times

"Originally I thought it would be great to wall-mount it, but that would require a lot of time, money and effort".

The New York Times

Children require a lot of time and money and, not surprisingly, workers who don't have either tend to forego having children.

The Guardian - Money

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

18 human-written examples

Friendship requires a lot of time.

The Guardian - Film

This conventional BPA requires a lot of time.

Procedia Computer Science

However, a full retrofit study requires a lot of time and costly engineering work.

Energy

First, it requires a lot of time to develop a new in-house simulation system.

Robotics and Computer-Integrated Manufacturing

Neuroimaging is extremely expensive and requires a lot of time and highly trained manpower.

Harvard University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid redundancy. If it's already clear that an activity is time-consuming, you may not need to explicitly state that it "require a lot of time".

Common error

Avoid using "require a lot of time" in overly simple sentences where the time investment is already obvious. For example, instead of saying "Learning a new language require a lot of time", consider rephrasing it as "Learning a new language is time-consuming."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "require a lot of time" functions as a verb phrase indicating that a certain activity or task necessitates a significant time investment. This phrase commonly connects a subject (the task) with the predicate (the time needed). Ludwig AI validates its frequent use in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

38%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "require a lot of time" is a common and grammatically sound way to express that a task or activity needs a significant time investment. According to Ludwig, it's widely used in various contexts, including news, science, and general writing. While perfectly acceptable, consider tailoring your word choice to match the specific tone of your writing, opting for alternatives like "demand significant time investment" in more formal settings. When employing "require a lot of time", avoid redundancy and ensure clarity in your sentences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

need a great deal of time

Emphasizes the extent of time needed using a synonym for "lot".

take a considerable amount of time

Replaces "lot" with "considerable" to emphasize the extent of time needed.

involve extensive time commitment

Highlights the commitment required and replaces "lot" with "extensive".

be a time-intensive process

Uses an adjective to describe the process, highlighting the time component.

demand significant time investment

Uses more formal vocabulary ("demand", "investment") and shifts the focus to the investment aspect.

call for a large time investment

This uses 'call for', which suggests a need for a significant investment of time.

entail a lengthy duration

Employs more formal wording and emphasizes the duration of the activity.

consume a significant portion of time

Focuses on the consumption of time, implying that time is a limited resource.

necessitate a substantial time allocation

Uses more formal language, focusing on the allocation of time.

require considerable time expenditure

Substitutes "lot of time" with a more formal term "considerable time expenditure".

FAQs

What does "require a lot of time" mean?

The phrase "require a lot of time" means that a particular task, activity, or process needs a significant amount of time to be completed or achieved.

What can I say instead of "require a lot of time"?

You can use alternatives like "take a considerable amount of time", "demand significant time investment", or "involve extensive time commitment" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "requires a lot of time"?

Yes, "requires a lot of time" is grammatically correct. The verb "require" needs to agree with its subject, so use "requires" for singular subjects and "require" for plural subjects.

What's the difference between "require a lot of time" and "take a lot of time"?

Both phrases have similar meanings, but "require a lot of time" emphasizes the necessity of time for something to be done, while "take a lot of time" simply states that something consumes a significant amount of time. They are often interchangeable.