Let\u2019s have a look at a couple of useful expressions that we use when we\u2019re discussing time:<\/p>\n
1. quanto tempo ci vuole?<\/strong> \u2013 This common expression is used in an impersonal sense to mean \u2018how much time is needed?\u2019<\/em> e.g.: quanto tempo ci vuole per fare il pane in casa?<\/strong> \u2013 how much time is needed to make bread at home? or: quanto tempo ci vuole per andare a Parma in macchina?<\/strong> \u2013 how much time is needed to drive to Parma in the car?<\/p>\n The reply would be ci vogliono due ore<\/strong> (per fare il pane in casa)<\/strong> \u2013 you need two hours (literally: two hours are needed), or ci vuole mezz\u2019ora (per andare a Parma in macchina)<\/strong> \u2013 you need half an hour (literally: half an hour is needed). As you can see, the answer can be in the plural \u2018vogliono\u2019<\/strong> as in the first example, or the singular \u2018vuole\u2019<\/strong> as in the second example, depending on the reply.<\/p>\n 2. quanto tempo ci metti\/mette?<\/strong> has the more personal sense of how long does it take you\/it? As usual, this is easier to illustrate with examples: quanto tempo ci metti per fare il pane in casa?<\/strong> \u2013 how long do you take to make bread at home? or quanto tempo ci metti per andare a Parma in macchina?<\/strong> \u2013 how long do you take to drive to Parma?<\/p>\n We can use the same expression for things such as i mezzi publici<\/strong> \u2013 buses, trains etc.: l\u2019autobus per Parma, quanto ci mette? <\/strong>\u2013 how long does the bus to Parma take? or quanto ci mette il traghetto da Livorno alla Sardegna?<\/strong> \u2013 how long does the ferry take from Livorno to Sardinia?<\/p>\n The reply depends on who or what is doing the action of \u2018taking time\u2019: ci metto<\/u> due ore (per fare il pane in casa)<\/strong> \u2013 I take<\/u> two hours, or ci metto<\/u> mezz\u2019ora (per andare a Parma in macchina) \u2013<\/strong> I take<\/u> half an hour, or l\u2019autobus per Parma ci mette<\/u> quaranta minuti<\/strong> \u2013 the bus to Parma takes<\/u> forty minutes. Note that this time the reply remains in the singular because we are talking about how much time I take<\/u> – ci metto<\/strong><\/u> or it (the bus) takes<\/u> \u2013 ci mette<\/strong><\/u>, and not how many minutes or hours are needed<\/u>, i.e. ci vuole<\/u> un minuto<\/strong> \u2013 one minute is needed<\/u>, ci vogliono<\/u> due minuti<\/strong> \u2013 two minutes are needed<\/u>, etc.<\/p>\n To finish with, a few example in the past tense:<\/p>\n 1. quanto tempo ci vuole?<\/strong> \u2013 \u2018how much time is needed?\u2019 becomes quanto tempo ci \u00e8 voluto?<\/strong> \u2013 \u2018how much time was needed\/did it\/you need?\u2019, e.g. quanto tempo ci \u00e8 voluto per fare il pane in casa?<\/strong> -how much time did it\/you need to make bread at home?<\/p>\n Once again, the reply will be in the singular: ci \u00e8 voluta un\u2019ora (per fare il pane in casa)<\/strong> \u2013 I needed an hour\/an hour was needed, or the plural: ci sono volute due ore<\/strong> \u2013 I needed two hours\/two hours were needed <\/p>\n 2. quanto tempo ci metti\/mette?<\/strong> – how long do you\/does it take? becomes quanto tempo ci hai\/ha messo?<\/strong> \u2013 how long did it take you\/it?, e.g. quanto tempo ci hai messo per fare il pane in casa?<\/strong> \u2013 how long did you take to make bread at home? or quanto tempo ci hai messo per andare a Parma in macchina?<\/strong> \u2013 how long did you take to drive to Parma? or l\u2019autobus per Parma, quanto ci ha messo? <\/strong>\u2013 how long did the bus take to get to Parma? or quanto ci ha messo il traghetto da Livorno alla Sardegna?<\/strong> \u2013 how long did the ferry take from Livorno to Sardinia?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Let\u2019s have a look at a couple of useful expressions that we use when we\u2019re discussing time: 1. quanto tempo ci vuole? \u2013 This common expression is used in an impersonal sense to mean \u2018how much time is needed?\u2019 e.g.: quanto tempo ci vuole per fare il pane in casa? \u2013 how much time is…<\/p>\n