Today, we answer a question from Jorge in Colombia. He writes:

今天，我们回答哥伦比亚的豪尔赫提出的一个问题vIR(^@DhVMf。他写道：

I'd like to know the difference between "how long" and "how much time." When should I use them? Thank you – from Jorge in Colombia

我想知道“how long”和“how much time”的区别yA;TJRzTT01;et@=*r。我应该在什么时候使用它们？谢谢——来自哥伦比亚的豪尔赫

Dear Jorge, Thank you for your question.

亲爱的豪尔赫，谢谢你的提问i[~8VJK_ld9。

Both "how long" and "how much time" are used to ask about the amount of time something takes or has taken.

“how long”和“how much time”都可以用来询问某事花费或已经花费的时间量LI,k9PU!p%。

But there are differences between the two. Let us take a look at them.

但两者有区别n,a6+;x3go#n.s(_N2。让我们来看看OMJN*RjHzI。

You will probably hear "how long" more than "how much time."

和“how much time”相比，你可能会更多地听到“how long”g^qr]jpomGM6%。

It can sound less formal than "how much time" and many speakers find it more natural.

它听起来没“how much time”那么正式，而且很多人觉得它更自然ySF3TGRm7k0YERd3。

It often comes at the beginning of a question. Here are a few examples:

它通常出现在疑问句的开头u(pVZJ25^HR]rjq.ZtTl。下面是一些例子：

How long have you lived in Texas?

你在德克萨斯州住了多久？

How long will you be at the store?

你要在商店里待多久？

"How long" is often used with the present perfect verb tense.

“How long”经常用于现在完成时=rl66ZWi!W。

So, the questions you may want to ask will likely begin with "how long have you..."

所以，你想问的问题可能以“how long have you”开头P2pvLqzw(7ofqPf6。

English speakers do not use "How long" directly before the word "time."

说英语的人不会在“time”之前直接加“How long”)r.^Sk[Y.N;!pKxq)@]g。

It is not correct to say "how long time."

说“how long time”是不正确的o5oNkPjAUhp2。

However, you may hear, "how long a time" in some situations, as in this example:

但是，在某些情况下你可能会听到“how long a time”，比如下面这个例子：

How long a time will we have to wait for the test result?

我们要等多长时间才能得到测试结果？

"How much time" is more exact than "how long". You will hear it at the beginning of a question. It is often used when asking about a shorter length of time.

“How much time”比“How long”更准确aUB2yAOwi+|P。你会在疑问句的开头听到它^yc3QB7=6qKo。它通常用于询问较短的时长lF7nWh,dixO*#&!ZC2。

English speakers may think it sounds a bit awkward to say "how much time" when not asking for or giving directions.

说英语的人可能会觉得，除请教或给予指导之外的情况下说“how much time”有点尴尬]eNIPUEU16.!rE(O。

For example, you might use "how much time" to ask for the amount of time it takes to cook something.

例如，你可以用“how much time”来询问做某道菜需要多少时间6Nvo1.b#&_Jp。

Or, you might use "how much time" to ask for the estimated length of time it takes to do a task.

或者，您可以使用“how much time”来询问完成一项任务所需的预估时长bg9ZZYzjzAoyhP+7kab*。

How much time does it take to cook rice?

煮饭要花多少时间？

How much time will it take to clean the house?

打扫房屋要花多少时间？

Thank you for the question, Jorge. I hope it did not take too much time for you to understand the answer!

谢谢你的提问，豪尔赫A*FLRrEhQys*H8N。我希望这没有花费你太多时间来理解我们的解答！

And that's Ask a Teacher.

以上就是本期《名师答疑》的全部内容G&U|b9e!2k3b。

I'm Jill Robbins.

我是吉尔·罗宾斯[R&YcyvE_Mbr=,。