Grammar · Free lesson
How far or how long? Ask about a journey
You are deciding whether to walk to a museum. Knowing how far away it is helps, but you may also need to know how long the walk takes. Those are two different facts.
Professor Scott MendozaThe short answer
Use “How far is it?” for distance. Use “How long does it take?” for travel time. Three miles answers the first question; fifteen minutes answers the second.
Match the question to the unit you want in the answer.
How far asks about distance: miles, kilometers, or another distance unit. In a journey question, how long does it take asks about duration: minutes or hours. Name the transport when it matters: “How long does it take by bus?” The same distance can take different amounts of time on foot and by bus.
Compare the examples
How far is the museum from here? — About two miles.
How long does it take to walk there? — About forty minutes.
How long does it take by bus? — About ten minutes.
Far identifies distance. Take connects the journey with the time it requires.
Build the meaning step by step
Choose distance
How far
Name the route
is the museum from here?
Ask separately for time
How long does it take to walk there?
Try it now
Ask for the right information
Read all answers and explanations
You need the distance from the hotel to the station. Which question asks for that?
How far is the station from the hotel?How far asks for distance. How long does it take asks for duration; how often asks for frequency.
“How long does it take to walk to the library?” Which answer gives the requested kind of information?
About twenty minutes.Minutes give a duration. A mile is a distance, and three times a week is a frequency.
The walk takes thirty minutes. You now need the bus travel time. Which question is specific enough?
How long does it take by bus?Does it take by bus asks about journey time. How long is the bus can ask about the vehicle’s physical length.
Put it into practice
Fix the travel-time question
You want to know whether the bus ride takes ten or twenty minutes. Change the question so it clearly asks for time.
How far is it by bus?
See a model answer
How long does it take by bus?
Use take to connect the journey with its duration, and keep by bus to identify the transport.
A little more clarity
Common questions
A few useful details before you move on.
Can I answer how far with minutes?
People sometimes describe a place as “ten minutes away.” That is a useful time estimate, but it is not a distance measurement. Ask how long it takes when time is the information you need.
How long does it take to get there? — Ten minutes on foot.
Does how long always mean time?
No. The rest of the question supplies the context. How long is the rope asks about physical length. How long does the walk take asks about duration.
How long does the walk take? — Twenty minutes.
Take it into your day
Distance: how far. Travel time: how long does it take.
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