■ as long as 或 so long as

同字面比较直接一致的意义，是表示引入的从句中谓语动词的动作或状态延续多久，主句的动作或状态也就延续多久。

• I'll remember it as long as I live.我一息尚存都永志不忘。
• As long as there are sovereign nations possessing great power, war is inevitable. (Albert Einstein, Atlantic, Nov. 1945)一天有一些拥有巨大威力的主权国家，战争就一天不可避免。

但是主从句之间也可以完全没有时间长短相同的关系，而是由从句起条件状语的作用，表示充足条件（“只要…就…”），此时从句中的谓语动词既可以是延续体的，也可以是瞬时体的。

• You can go as long as you're back by twelve.你只要十二点以前回来，就可以去。
• You're welcome to stay with us as long as you share the expenses.你只要分担费用，就欢迎你留在我们这里。
• I'll do it as long as I get paid for it.只要有报酬，我就干。
• Detergent cannot harm a fabric, so long as it has been properly dissolved.洗涤剂只要好好溶解，就不会伤衣料。