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Angliholic Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

Do whatever it takes/costs to ensure

Parents will do whatever it takes to ensure their children's safety.

Hi,
Is "takes" in the above interchangeable with "costs?" Thanks.
  

Top answer

No - costs generally implies what you spend. "Whatever it takes" includes a lot more than buying stuff. (Yes, there are other meanings for costs , and "at all costs" also includes more than buying stuff.

— BarbaraPA

  • No - costs generally implies what you spend.
  • "Whatever it takes" includes a lot more than buying stuff.
  • (Yes, there are other meanings for costs , and "at all costs" also includes more than buying stuff.
  • Whatever it takes is much closer to at all costs than it is to whatever it costs .
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2 Answers
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No - costs generally implies what you spend. "Whatever it takes" includes a lot more than buying stuff.

(Yes, there are other meanings for costs, and "at all costs" also includes more than buying stuff.

Whatever it takes is much closer to at all costs than it is to whatever it costs.
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Parents will do whatever it takes to ensure their children's safety.

Is "takes" in the above interchangeable with "costs?"

No. If you change takes to costs you'll have to change do to pay. And then you'll be talking about money rather than something more general.

Par
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