Difference between prendre vs mettre du temps

Question

Bonjour à tous,In translating the idea of the time it takes to do something, are mettre and prendre interchangeable?  Or are there specific situations for the use of each ? Thanks in advance.

Cécile Janty-Davies · Accepted Answer

Hi Jean,
That's an interesting question and no, they are not interchangeable and they are used differently.
You will use mettre du temps when the subject / a person is doing the action -
e.g
J'ai mis un temps fou ce matin pour venir au travail = It took me forever this morning to get into work
Sébastien a mis du temps à me répondre = Sébastien took a long time to answer me
You will use 'prendre du temps' when the action is the subject -
Ça a pris un temps fou! = It took forever!
Apprendre le français prend énormément de temps = Learning French takes a great deal of time
Hope this helps!

Jean Walters · Answer

Thanks so much for your very easily understood explanation.

stupefaite Lastname · Answer

I would like to ask an additional question to Cecile's answer. So, we can say:

J'ai mis quelques années pour apprendre le français.

Ça m'a pris quelques années pour apprendre le français.

Is that correct ?

Cécile Janty-Davies · Answer

Hi Stupéfaite,
Yes you can say that too, you would be conveying ‘in order to ‘ rather than ‘to’.
Bonne Continuation!