C1

It takes + O + time + to V0 · It occurred to + O + that + S + V

It takes / It occurred to me / It goes without saying

Explanation

Nhóm cấu trúc mở đầu bằng it không giữ chỗ cho chủ ngữ nào cả, mà là chủ ngữ trơ đã đóng băng vào cụm. it takes nói về lượng thời gian hoặc phẩm chất cần có; it occurred to me nói một ý chợt đến; it goes without saying nêu điều hiển nhiên. Bẫy thường gặp: Đừng đổi chủ ngữ: I take three hours to get there ✗, It takes me three hours ✓.

Examples

It takes three hours to get there by road.

Đi đường bộ tới đó mất ba giờ.

It takes patience to teach beginners.

Dạy người mới thì cần sự kiên nhẫn.

It occurred to me that we had met before.

Tôi chợt nghĩ ra là chúng ta đã gặp nhau trước đây.

It goes without saying that safety comes first.

Không cần nói cũng rõ là an toàn là trên hết.

Practice

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Learn “It takes + O + time + to V0 · It occurred to + O + that + S + V” effectively

The grammar point “It takes + O + time + to V0 · It occurred to + O + that + S + V” (It takes / It occurred to me / It goes without saying) is one of the key structures at CEFR 5. To use it fluently, you need to understand the contexts where it's used and practice regularly.

Study tip: read the examples aloud many times to build a natural reflex. Then try making your own sentences for your own situations. Use the audio button to hear and practice accurate pronunciation.

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