We say: "the meeting will last two hours". But we say: "how long does the flight take?"
Please let me know the difference between last and take and when we should use each.
Learn English – The difference between “take hours” and “last hours”
differencestimeverbs
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Best Answer
Both "take <time>" and "last <time>" are used to indicate the duration of an event. I think "take" is generally used to refer to a delay before you get the expected outcome, while "lasts" is used when the benefit (or pain) is ongoing.
Like, "It takes six months to get an application approved." As far as the applicant is concerned, nothing productive happens in that six months. He's just waiting for the end. But, "The flavor of the chewing gum lasted for an hour." You got the flavor all along. "From when we first saw the clouds, it took four hours for the rain to start. Once it started, it lasted two hours." It "took" time before it started; but once it started it "lasted".
Like I once heard a joke that went like this: The motor vehicle bureau has announced a 15% increase in the cost of all license renewals. But, they assure customers, they will get more for their money. In the future, all visits to the motor vehicle bureau will last 15% longer.
To ruin a joke by explaining it: The humor of this joke keys on the word "last". We don't think of a visit to a bureaucracy as an event to be desired for itself. So it "takes time" — we have to sit and wait. By saying it will "last longer" it implies that the visit is something fun that you want to do, like going to an amusement park.