we have spent too much time vs we have spent a lot of time

Both phrases are correct and commonly used in English. They convey a similar meaning, but 'we have spent too much time' implies a negative connotation of excessive time spent, while 'we have spent a lot of time' is more neutral.

Last updated: March 30, 2024 • 3303 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate an excessive amount of time spent on something.

"we have spent too much time"

This phrase is used when emphasizing that the time spent on a particular activity is more than necessary or desirable.

Examples:

We have spent too much time discussing this issue.
I feel like we have spent too much time on this project.

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Mr President, Commissioner, the White Paper on Transport is dated 12 September 2001 and it may appear that we have spent too much time analysing this important report sent to us by the Commission.
We have spent too much time living with the consequences of the great political error of the famous seven days of total peace.
I think we may have spent slightly too much time together last weekend, too much studying.
I must add, Commissioner, that we have perhaps spent a little too much time discussing liberalisation and markets - particularly in the gas sector, as you are well aware.
The other point on which we have spent much time is the attitude of teachers to the technology.
I spent too much time thinking it through.
I spent too much time in the sewers during the uprising.
You've spent too much time with the stars.
I've spent too much time with the children.
I've spent too much time here recently being afraid.
You spent too much time with us, Jon Snow.
You have obviously spent too much time with the monks.
We all spent too much time in the closet.
You spent too much time with him.
We spent too much time in the water.
He has spent too much time by himself.
I spent too much time building a career And dating ambivalent men.
You spent too much time reading the coupling.
You spent too much time growing fat.
I spent too much time reading.

Alternatives:

We have spent an excessive amount of time.
We have spent an unreasonable amount of time.

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate a significant amount of time spent on something.

"we have spent a lot of time"

This phrase is used to convey that a considerable or substantial amount of time has been dedicated to a particular activity.

Examples:

We have spent a lot of time preparing for this presentation.
I know we have spent a lot of time on this project.

Show examples from the web [+]

We have spent a lot of time and energy in the last year investigating procedures, oversight, transparency and effective risk management of international capital market participants.
We have spent a lot of time considering product placement, and have - albeit with certain exceptions - banned it.
Today we have spent a lot of time discussing the issue of coercion, and I am wondering whether coercion and education are not contradictory terms.
We have spent a lot of time crafting a new proposal to actually allow regulators to intervene if they see net neutrality being trespassed upon.
We have spent a lot of time working on the subject in this Parliament, and as everyone has said, we are very concerned about the future of the Natura 2000 network.
I know we haven't spent a lot of time together this year... but I thought that we were close enough to be honest with each other.
Listen, I mean, I know we haven't spent a lot of time together since we started this, but we're both busy people.
And we haven't spent a lot of time talking about what that process is like.
And we haven't spent a lot of time talking about
I think we must go ahead with this debate since we have already spent a lot of time preparing the reports scheduled for today, essentially the Miguélez report.
We seemed to have spent a lot of time debating amongst ourselves, rather than debating with others, on a day-by-day basis and we ended up being soundly thrashed.
We have spent rather a lot of time with you and the band, haven't we?
But I have spent a lot of time with her lately.
You have spent a lot of time protecting people who have done very bad things.
I have spent a lot of time trying to get it organised.
I have spent a lot of time working in the Balkans and continue to do so.
With these objectives in mind and wanting to reach a good outcome, I have spent a lot of time listening attentively in the last few months.
Tattoo artist who gave it to him must have spent a lot of time on him then.
This is something that I have spent a lot of time working...
I have spent a lot of time there in the last three years.

Alternatives:

We have dedicated a significant amount of time.
We have invested a substantial amount of time.

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we have spent too much time vs we have spent a lot of time