as long as

as long as 除只要外,還有其他意思嗎?

as long as 很多人都知道解「只要」,引條件副詞子句, 例如:

I can come as long as I can leave by 4.00.

但as long as 也有另外兩個意思.查Collins Dictionary:

1. for or during just the length of time that

2. inasmuch as; since

3. provided that; if

查dictionary.com:

a. provided that: As long as you can come by six, I'll be here.

b.seeing that; since: As long as you're going to the grocery anyway, buy me a pint of ice cream.

c.Also, so long as. during the time that; through the period that: As long as we were neighbors, they never invited us inside their house.

一個意思是「持續 (一段時間)」:

Do the stretching in a gentle, slow manner, and hold each stretch for as long as indicated below.

Martin Budd N.D., D.O. WHY CAN'T I LOSE WEIGHT: IS YOUR WEIGHT GAIN A SYMPTOM OF A HIDDEN HEALTH PROBLEM? (2002)

另一個是「因為」:

As long as you're going to the grocery anyway, buy me a pint of ice cream.


注意:so far as 只有在解「只要」時,才可取代as long as .