许多辞书在介绍as long as和so long as的用法时,都不加区别地说它们可以互换.其实,as long as和so long as作连接词时,有如下几点要引起注意.

　　一、在表示during the whole time that(长达……之久)或while(只要)的含义时,往往用as long as。如:

　　1. They all continued their regard for me as long as they lived. 他们毕生都在关心着我.

　　2. For almost as long as Juanita could remember, adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing seemed as easy as breathing, and as natural. 在胡安妮塔的记忆中,加减乘除对自己来说早就是如同呼吸一样简单而自然了.

　　3. As long as there is life there is hope. 留得生命在,不怕没希望.

　　二、在表示on condition that, provided that或if(只要,如果)的含义时,用as long as或so long as的情况均很常见。如:

　　1. You can go out, as / so long as you promise to be back before 11 o'clock. 你可以出去,只要你答应在11点以前回来.

　　2. I'll accept any job as / so long as I don't have to get up early. 只要不必早起,任何工作我都可以接受.

　　3. So / As long as electric current flows through a wire, there is a potential difference. 只要有电流通过,导线就有电位差.

　　4. These stories reinforced the idea that all individuals, no matter how poor, were capable of becoming wealthy so / as long as they were hardworking. 这些故事强化了一种思想,那就是,所有人,不管有多穷,只要勤劳,都能变富有.

　　三、在表示since, considering that(既然,因为)的含义时,多用as long as。如:

　　1. As long as we've driven this far, we might as well go on. 我们既然已经驶得这么远了,就不妨继续前进.

　　2. As long as you are here, go on. 你既然已经来到这里了,就干吧.

　　3. As long as you are going, I'll go too. 既然你要去,那么我也去.

　　四、有时,as / so long as与if only同义,由它引导的状语分句可不依附主句而单独使用,表示说话人的希望、愿望或遗憾心情等。如:

　　-It's said it's going to turn colder and freeze later on. 听说过些时候天气要变冷,有冰冻.

　　-As long as it doesn't spoil the weekend. (=I hope that it doesn't spoil the weekend.) 只要不把周末弄糟了就没事.

　　五、在用as / so long as连接的从句中,当其谓语为be,而主语和主句的主语相同时,则从句的主语和be可以省略。如:

　　I'm sure we are safe as long as(we are) in his care. 我深信只要在他的保护下,我们就会平安无事.

　　练习:

　　Directions: Choose the one from A) , B) and C) that can take the place of the conjunction "as / so long as" in each of the following sentences.

　　1. As long as you feed him, he would be cooperative.

　　A) Because B) If

　　C) Considering that

　　2. This means he can keep the policy in force as long as he lives.

　　A) since B) while C) because

　　3. As long as you're here, we might as well talk about your last game.

　　A) Considering that B) Provided that

　　C) During the whole time that

　　4. They have been there as long as anyone can remember.

　　A) during the whole time that

　　B) on condition that

　　C) if only

　　5. As long as you are going to town anyway, you can do something for me.

　　A) While B) If C) Since

　　6. So long as he works hard, I don't mind when he finishes the experiment.

　　A) On condition that

　　B) Considering that

　　C) Only if

　　7. He will surely finish the job on time so long as he's left to do it in his own way.

　　A) now that

　　B) since

　　C) provided that

　　8. I will fight for the cause of communism as long as I live.

　　A) if only B) while C) because

　　答案: 1. B 2. B 3. A 4. A 5. C 6. A 7. C 8. B

　　(文/姜建华　英语辅导报大学一年级版03~04学年第45期;版权归英语辅导报社所有，独家网络合作伙伴新浪教育，未经许可，不得以任何形式进行转载。)