http://www.englishforums.com/English/FrequentlyAskedEnglishQuestions-AnswersArchivedPosts/Forum31.htmArea designed to store the most commonly asked questions and their accepted answers.enXMOD (Build: 3607.32596)http://www.englishforums.com/English/SoLongAsVsAsLongAs/bwxjz/post.htm#127130Sun, 22 Feb 2009 21:00:03 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:127130TimKowal0http://www.englishforums.com/English/SoLongAsVsAsLongAs/bwxjz/post.htm#127130http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments31-127130.xmlAfter thinking about Clive's distinction, I think I understand it now. "You can stay here as long as you are alive." You are alive now, and your permission to stay here will last "as long as" the stipulated condition (being alive) continues. The idea is to match up the timeframes of the two things: the timeframe for staying here is now make to be the same as the timeframe of being alive. "You can stay here so long as you do not serve alcohol on the premises." Here, we are not lining up the timeframe of staying here to another condition. Instead, if the stated condition (serving alcohol) ever occurs, then the permissive use will end. We are just saying that the permitted use may continue until some condition springs...http://www.englishforums.com/English/SoLongAsVsAsLongAs/bwxjz/post.htm#127122Fri, 22 May 2009 20:00:03 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:127122Clive1http://www.englishforums.com/English/SoLongAsVsAsLongAs/bwxjz/post.htm#127122http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments31-127122.xmlHi Paco, Well, yeah, OK. Although ... I''m not disputing about comparatives/superlatives or comparisons or 'real' lengths. And out of that huge amount of stuff, the only related parts seem to be: So (or as) long as : often nearly equivalent to 'provided that', 'if only'. Also, long as , ellipt. for so (or as) long as. 1887 L.Carroll Game of Logic Pref., Is there any great harm in that, so long as you get plenty of amusement? 1938 G.Greene Brighton Rock i. i. 22 'It's all right,' he said, 'long as you are here'. I guess my temptation to say it was 'incorrect' was misguided, it just shows that you shouldn't yield to your temptations, doesn't it? Although I'd be inclined to write 'as long as ...' if I were trying...http://www.englishforums.com/English/SoLongAsVsAsLongAs/bwxjz/post.htm#127098Sun, 22 Mar 2009 21:00:03 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:127098paco20042http://www.englishforums.com/English/SoLongAsVsAsLongAs/bwxjz/post.htm#127098http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments31-127098.xmlUuum, Clive, but still I want to ask why? A part of the entry 'long' in OED is as follows: Long 1.b. In the comparative and superlative, or preceded by advs. of comparison (as, how, so, thus, too, etc.), the adv. indicates amount of relative duration. So (or as) long as : often nearly equivalent to 'provided that', 'if only'. Also, long as , ellipt. for so (or as) long as. c900 Baeda's Hist. iv. ***. (Schipper) 496 Ic..the..aetywde..hu lange thu on hreowe awunian sceole. 971 Blickl. Hom. 169 Swa lange swa ġe ðisdydon ðara anum ðe on me ġelyfdon. a1225 Leg. Kath. 1816 To longe we habbeð idriuen ure dusischipes. c1375 Sc. Leg. Saints vii. (Jacobus Minor) 623 Ay the langare he sat sa, the mare grew his sorow & va. c1400...http://www.englishforums.com/English/SoLongAsVsAsLongAs/bwxjz/post.htm#127096Wed, 22 Apr 2009 20:00:03 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:127096Clive3http://www.englishforums.com/English/SoLongAsVsAsLongAs/bwxjz/post.htm#127096http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments31-127096.xmlHi, For conditionals, I'm tempted to suggest that so long as .... is 'incorrect'. Just don't ask me why. But as evidence, I could point out that Swan's Practical English Usage 1994 (sections 76 and 310) doesn't seem even to mention 'so long as'. Perhaps it's a case where 'as', used in the conditional sense, has just gotten corrupted into another little two-letter word? So long, Clive (that's a little joke)http://www.englishforums.com/English/SoLongAsVsAsLongAs/bwxjz/post.htm#127090Fri, 22 May 2009 20:00:03 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:127090Philip4http://www.englishforums.com/English/SoLongAsVsAsLongAs/bwxjz/post.htm#127090http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments31-127090.xmlPaco2004 wrote: Hello Tim I too am a mere English learner, but if you don't mind, let me try to answer. We use <as (so) long as> in two ways. When they are used in the c omparison of physical lengths, use <as long as> for affirmative sentences and <so long as> for negative sentences. This bridge is as long as the Golden Gate Bridge. That bridge is not so long as the Golden Gate Bridge. When <as (so) long as> is used as an adverbial conjunctive similar to <provided that ...>, you can use either, though <so long as> sounds somewhat more archaic than <as long as>. As/so long as you stay in US, you can improve your English speaking skill. I can read any book...http://www.englishforums.com/English/SoLongAsVsAsLongAs/bwxjz/post.htm#127085Sun, 22 Feb 2009 21:00:03 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:127085paco20045http://www.englishforums.com/English/SoLongAsVsAsLongAs/bwxjz/post.htm#127085http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments31-127085.xmlHello Tim I too am a mere English learner, but if you don't mind, let me try to answer. We use <as (so) long as> in two ways. When they are used in the c omparison of physical lengths, use only <as long as> for affirmative sentences and <so long as> or <as long as> for negative sentences. This bridge is as long as the Golden Gate Bridge. That bridge is not so/as long as the Golden Gate Bridge. When <as (so) long as> is used as an adverbial conjunctive similar to <provided that ...>, you can use either, though <so long as> sounds somewhat more archaic than <as long as>. As/so long as you stay in US, you can improve your English speaking skill. I can read any...http://www.englishforums.com/English/SoLongAsVsAsLongAs/bwxjz/post.htmWed, 22 Apr 2009 20:00:03 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:127029TimKowal6http://www.englishforums.com/English/SoLongAsVsAsLongAs/bwxjz/post.htmhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/comments31-127029.xmlSuch ubiquitous phrases puzzle me; I don't know if there is a difference (preferential?), and if there is, when to use one over the other. Any suggestions? Thanks! Tim