As long as means “provided that” or “only if”. It sets a condition that is enough on its own: You'll pass as long as you practise every day. Its second meaning is about time, “for the whole period that”: Stay as long as you like.
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clause + as long as + present simple (condition); As long as + clause, + main clause; for as long as + clause (time)
- Public transport will stay popular as long as it remains cheaper than driving.
- You can hand in the essay on Monday as long as you tell your tutor in advance.
- My grandmother has lived in this village for as long as I can remember.
What changed
First versionYou can borrow my car under condition that you fill up the tank.
RevisionYou can borrow my car as long as you fill up the tank.
Under condition that may sound like a natural way to state a condition, but English doesn't use it. There is the official-sounding on condition that and the bookish provided that, and in everyday speech a condition is most often introduced with as long as.
If simply names a condition, while as long as stresses that nothing more is required: I'll lend you the money as long as you pay me back next month, meaning that one condition is enough. In the second meaning, about time, for is often added: I'll wait for as long as it takes.
Your turn
You can take photos in the museum ___ you don't use a flash.
Show the answer
as long as — Photos are allowed on one condition, no flash, and that condition is introduced by as long as. As soon as means “immediately when” and points to a moment, not a condition, so the sentence would lose its meaning.
Imagine you are letting a neighbour, colleague or child do something. Write what exactly they can do and use as long as to set one condition.
You can use my bike while I'm on holiday as long as you keep it in the garage at night.
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