I took three hours to get/getting home last night.

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1
  1. I took three hours to get home last night.
  2. I took three hours getting home last night.
    What’s the difference in meaning between the above two sentences?
2

The most common sentence for me would be this:

It took me three hours to get home last night

3

“She took an hour to get ready”. Full Stop. End of Sentence. OK.
and
“She took an hour getting ready, an hour saying her thank-yous and goodbyes, and an hour crying in the limousine about how beautiful the day had been so that she then took ages fixing her streaking mascara and eye-shadow. Poor old groom thought they’d miss the plane and this honeymoon wouldn’t get off the ground.”

Can we use both the gerund form and the infinitive form?
If so, what’s the difference in meaning when I say:
“I took three hours to get home last night.”
and
“It took me three hours to get home last night.”
and
“I took three hours getting home last night.”

4

Hi sitifan,

Your last example sounds a bit odd, ‘getting home last night took three hours’ sounds a bit more natural.

As for your first example, ‘it took her an hour to get ready’ would sound more convincing.

5

I really see no significant difference between those two sentences. However, there would be a difference if the sentence began with “it”.

Beginning the sentence with “I” (as you have done) suggests that “I” intentionally spent much more time than would otherwise be needed (or typical) to get from point X to home last night.

.

6
  1. I took three hours getting home last night.
  2. She takes all day getting out of the bathroom.
  3. They took two hours unloading the ferry.
  4. She took an hour getting ready.
    Which of the above sentences is NOT acceptable?
7
  1. It tooke me three hours to get home last night.
  2. It tooke me three hours getting home last night.
    Are #3 and #4 both acceptable?