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30-Nov-2006, 06:31
| | Key Member | | Join Date: Nov 2003 Country: China
Posts: 2,259
Current Location: China Native Language: Chinese Member Type: Student or Learner | |  as long as and as soon as
Dear teachers,
Please read the sentence:
Humans everywhere are alike in this respect. _________ there is any extra money, they seek to raise their standard of living.
a. As long as b. As soon as
The key is 'b'. But I think 'a' is also correct. 'b' means 'the moment there is any extra money...' while 'a' means 'On the condition that there is any extra money'. Is that right?
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Thank you in advance.
Jiang |
30-Nov-2006, 08:33
| | Newbie | | Join Date: Nov 2006 Country: Canada
Posts: 15
Current Location: Germany Native Language: English Member Type: English Teacher | | Re: as long as and as soon as
That sounds correct to me. As you noted, there is a slightly different meaning between 'as long as' and 'as soon as', but as long as (  )the sentence stands alone then they both work. |
30-Nov-2006, 09:08
| | Key Member | | Join Date: Nov 2003 Country: China
Posts: 2,259
Current Location: China Native Language: Chinese Member Type: Student or Learner | | Re: as long as and as soon as
Dear StaceyJ,
Thank you very much for your explanation. Now I see.
Such exercises always makes me feel less confident in myself because they always put two correct answers in one sentence which stands alone.
Best wishes,
Jiang Quote:
Originally Posted by StaceyJ  That sounds correct to me. As you noted, there is a slightly different meaning between 'as long as' and 'as soon as', but as long as ( )the sentence stands alone then they both work. | |
30-Nov-2006, 09:11
| | Newbie | | Join Date: Nov 2006 Country: Canada
Posts: 15
Current Location: Germany Native Language: English Member Type: English Teacher | | Re: as long as and as soon as
No problem. Those sorts of questions always make me look over them two or three times as well, and I've been speaking English for 30 years. |
30-Nov-2006, 13:04
| | Key Member | | Join Date: Nov 2003 Country: China
Posts: 2,259
Current Location: China Native Language: Chinese Member Type: Student or Learner | | Re: as long as and as soon as
Dear StaceyJ,
Thank you for comforting me and thank you for your help.
Jiang Quote:
Originally Posted by StaceyJ No problem. Those sorts of questions always make me look over them two or three times as well, and I've been speaking English for 30 years. | |
30-Nov-2006, 20:21
|  | VIP Member | | Join Date: Nov 2002 Country: USA
Posts: 6,089
Current Location: New York Native Language: American English Member Type: Academic | | Re: as long as and as soon as
Quote:
Originally Posted by jiang Dear teachers,
Please read the sentence:
Humans everywhere are alike in this respect. _________ there is any extra money, they seek to raise their standard of living.
a. As long as b. As soon as
The key is 'b'. But I think 'a' is also correct. 'b' means 'the moment there is any extra money...' while 'a' means 'On the condition that there is any extra money'. Is that right?
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Thank you in advance.
Jiang | They are both correct. This must drive you crazy! |
01-Dec-2006, 01:07
|  | Moderator | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Country: Scotland
Posts: 1,652
Current Location: England Native Language: English Member Type: Student or Learner | | Re: as long as and as soon as
Humans everywhere are alike in this respect. As soon as there is any extra money, they will seek to raise their standard of living.
Humans everywhere are alike in this respect. As long as there is extra money, they will use it to raise their standard of living. |
01-Dec-2006, 11:00
| | Key Member | | Join Date: Nov 2003 Country: China
Posts: 2,259
Current Location: China Native Language: Chinese Member Type: Student or Learner | | Re: as long as and as soon as
Dear Mike,
Yes. This drives me mad and makes me less confident in myself.
When there are two choices that I think are correct I always think it is me who makes mistake instead of the professors who complied the textbook. This is why I sometimes ask silly questions. And it seems there are more and more such cases. This is too bad. I have bought more dictionaries compiled by native speakers. And I would consult the dictionaries before I ask you teachers questions, I mean, if I can't find the answer in my dictionaries.
I hope the textbooks and exercise books will be improved in the near future.
Jiang Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeNewYork They are both correct. This must drive you crazy! |
Last edited by jiang; 01-Dec-2006 at 12:07.
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01-Dec-2006, 11:14
| | Key Member | | Join Date: Nov 2003 Country: China
Posts: 2,259
Current Location: China Native Language: Chinese Member Type: Student or Learner | | Re: as long as and as soon as
Dear curmudgeon,
Thank you very much for your reply. Quote:
Originally Posted by curmudgeon Humans everywhere are alike in this respect. As soon as there is any extra money, they will seek to raise their standard of living.
Do you mean this sentence lays stress on the fact that they seek to raise their standard of living. It doesn't suggest they use the money. Is that right? Humans everywhere are alike in this respect. As long as there is extra money, they will use it to raise their standard of living. | Do you mean this sentence lays stress onthe fact that they will use the money to raise their standard of living. Is that right?
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Thank you in advance.
Jiang |
01-Dec-2006, 11:56
|  | Key Member | | Join Date: Aug 2006 Country: Armenia
Posts: 2,631
Current Location: Moscow,Russia Native Language: Armenian Member Type: English Teacher | | Re: as long as and as soon as
Quote:
Originally Posted by curmudgeon Humans everywhere are alike in this respect. As soon as there is any extra money, they will seek to raise their standard of living.
Humans everywhere are alike in this respect. As long as there is extra money, they will use it to raise their standard of living. | Nice job!  | | |
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