ages vs long time

[Timoxa]

English Language Proficiency Tests, Advanced Level

ESL/EFL Test #72 "At the End of the Day (1)", question 2

some who take ......... to wake up and some who jump straight out of bed first thing,

(a) long time
(b) ages
(c) periods
(d) lengths

English Language Proficiency Tests, Advanced Level

ESL/EFL Test #72 "At the End of the Day (1)", answer 2

some who take ages to wake up and some who jump straight out of bed first thing,

Correct answer: (b) ages

Your answer was: incorrect
some who take long time to wake up and some who jump straight out of bed first thing,
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why not long time here?

Timoxa

[Alan]

Hi Timoxa,

If you wanted to use 'long time', it would need the indefinite articles 'a'.

Some who take a long time to wake up ....

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Present Simple

[Ngoc_Ngocb]

Hi Alan ,
I thought ''ages'' means '' for many years'' but now I get it. Thank you very much.

[Hadeer]

Dear Alan,

Is it only "the definite article" or there is a difference in meaning?

Hadeer