as long as

[aysaa]

Hello dear,

When you are talking about the future, we do not use will after unless/as long as/ provided/ providing/ so long as/ whereas.

I couldn't find any right information about that and I would like to ask that that is correct or not.

Thank you

 

[Barb_D]

I'd say you can, with a negative.

As long as you keep up that attitude, mister, you will not be going to your friend's sleep over!

Unless you get your chores done, we will not be going to the movies this afternoon.

 

[shannico]

If I understand correctly you have doubts regarding the use of will after unless, as long as, provided, providing in the subordinate clause ( the sentence stating the condition) and not in the main clause. In that case, no you can't, as all these connectors introduce a condition which cannot be expressed in the future or in the conditional.

e.g. I will tell you a secret, as long as/provided you keep it to yourself

 

[Barb_D]

Provided you keep studying, you will have no problem passing your exam.

What's wrong with that?

 

[aysaa]

I wanted to emphasize the main sentence.

Unless/as long as/ provided/ providing/ so long as/ whereas I will...........

 

[Barb_D]

Ah. You're right. Don't use that.

 

[5jj]

If I understand correctly you have doubts regarding the use of "will" after "unless", "as long as", "provided", "providing" in the subordinate clause ( the sentence stating the condition) and not in the main clause. In that case, no you can't, as all these connectors introduce a condition which cannot be expressed in the future or in the conditional.

e.g. I will tell you a secret, as long as/provided you keep it to yourself

If you will promise not to tell anybody, I'll tell you a secret.

That is perfectly acceptable, with 'will' having the idea of BE willing.

shannico, will you please separate the words you are talking about from the main text.It does not really matter whether you use single ('...') or double ("...") quotation marks, italics or bold fonts, but use one of them.

 

[shannico]

If you will promise not to tell anybody, I'll tell you a secret.

That is perfectly acceptable, with 'will' having the idea of BE willing.

That is more an exception to the norm than the norm itself.

 

[5jj]

That is more an exception to the norm than the norm itself.

It is not an exception to anything. Will not infrquently has the meaning of Be willing:

I'll carry your bag for you.
Will you peel the potatoes, please?
If you will come this way, I'll show you to your room.
If you will read the letter more carefully, you will see what he means.

 

[shannico]

Of course will has that meaning. That is what makes it a modal verb.
Plus "if" may be followed by "will" in indirect speech:

e.g. I don't know if he'll come.

However "if "followed by "will" is not as frequent as "if" followed by other tenses or modals in conditional clauses. And of course the same applies to "would".

That is what I meant, and because we are talking about conditional clauses, if followed by will/would is not contemplated except in the case you stated, which is not the norm. That is what I meant. Sorry for not being clearer.

 

[5jj]

It is one of the enduring myths of English that 'will' cannot be used in an if-clause. That 'rule' has so many exceptions that it is worthless.

It would be more accurate to say: When will expresses certainty, it is rarely used in a conditional clause. The reason for this is straightforward - if implies uncertainty, and we are unlikely to mix certainty and uncertainty. However, see the following (from http://www.gramorak.com/Articles/If.pdf):

"When WILL is used with a future happening or state that is taken as certain by the speaker, then the possibility is, as with a present happening or state (in the speaker's mind) 100%. In such cases, IF carries the idea of granted that this is the case. [...]; the theoretical possibility of the non-happening or non-state is acknowledged, but the speaker accepts the reality of the happening or state.

Note that, despite what some English writers and teachers say, the use of WILL in the IF-clause is perfectly natural with this shade of meaning:

A. Andrea will be in Manchester next Wednesday.
B. Well, if Andrea will be in Manchester, then we'd better book a hotel for her."

 

[shannico]

Thanks a lot. That was a very comprehensive and detailed explanation. Just to make things clearer though, here's what I meant by exception:

BBC World Service | Learning English | Learn it

This is normally how I would deal with conditional sentences. I find this explanation in line with what you said and very accessible for non-native English speakers learning English.

Regards