why did you take so long vs what took so long

Both phrases are correct and commonly used in English. They are interchangeable and can be used to inquire about the reason for a delay or a long wait.

Last updated: March 31, 2024 • 6888 views

why did you take so long

This phrase is correct and commonly used to ask for the reason behind a delay or a long wait.

This phrase is used to inquire about the cause of a delay or a long wait. It seeks an explanation for the time taken to complete a task or arrive at a destination.

Examples:

Why did you take so long to finish the project?
Why did you take so long to get here?
Why did you take so long to respond to my message?
Why did you take so long to make a decision?
Why did you take so long to call me back?

Show examples from the web [+]
Last updated: October 27, 2024

Jan 23, 2017 ... 'Why did you take so long?' (Past tense). 'You took so long!' (Past Tense). These statements are said after the other person has made you ...
Sep 21, 2024 ... Why did you take so long to reach your current level at your L2. Discussion. I've been learning English, French and German for like 4-5 years ...
Why Did You Take So Long To Write Alcatraz 5? These goofy books have quite the devoted following, and over the years one of the number one questions I got was ...
Nov 25, 2020 ... I've always thought the correct sentence was "why did you take so long?". Could anyone clear this up for me? See a translation.
... why did you take so long? I knew for a while that this would happen.' What got me through this whole ordeal is acceptance - that this is my fate, now I can ...
Sep 6, 2023 ... 416 likes, 48 comments - coachnati on September 6, 2023: "“Why did you take so long?” “Aren't you worried about the age gap?
Oct 31, 2013 ... "Why did you take so long to come?" Because it seems weird if I change them to a declarative sentece from the interrogative sentence. What ...
Feb 3, 2018 ... is significantly more common than Why did you take so long? But there are many ways of asking questions like this, and many different ...
Jun 11, 2023 ... adrianbookstv on June 11, 2023: "PIPER & BRENDAN Okeeeyyy, I know what you are going to say and it is: WHY DID YOU TAKE SO LONG ...
6 days ago ... ... at 9:30 AM. BOSS: Why did you take so long in the bathroom? ME: Oh just contemplating my life decisions that led me to this moment... 1 · 1.

Alternatives:

What took you so long?
What made you take so long?
What caused the delay?
What was the reason for the delay?
What was the holdup?

what took so long

This phrase is correct and commonly used to ask about the reason for a delay or a long wait.

This phrase is used to inquire about the cause of a delay or a long wait. It seeks an explanation for the time taken to complete a task or arrive at a destination.

Examples:

What took so long for you to get here?
What took so long for the food to arrive?
What took so long for the decision to be made?
What took so long for the repair to be completed?
What took so long for the response?

Show examples from the web [+]

Ray, I'm not complaining, but what took so long?
What took so long?
And I guess I don't need to ask what took so long.
Bevans, what took so long?
May I ask what took so long?
Bevans, what took so long? Where's Julian?
What took so long, Marnie?
What took so long for the lab to get here?
What took so long?
What took so long?
What took so long?
What took so long?
What took so long?
What took so long?
And they will ask what took so long when the Earth itself was at dire risk.

Alternatives:

Why did you take so long?
What made you take so long?
What caused the delay?
What was the reason for the delay?
What was the holdup?

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why did you take so long vs what took so long