1.It takes me 1 hour to find the answer for this question
->I spent 1 hours finding the answer for this question.
2.Although they are short,they still love playing basketball
->In spite of being short/ their shortness, they still love playing basketball
3.My mother washed clothes by hand last year,but now she no longer does it ( using "used to")
--> My mother used to wash clothes by hand last year, but now she no longer does it