Assuming / supposing / provided / if / as long as

Question

Hello!Could you help me?My students ask me about the difference between "assuming / supposing / provided / if / as long as". For them this all sounds synonymous and equals to "if". Honestly, for me, too  So, please, could you explain the slight difference between these words so that we can understand the meaning. Or, for example, how can we finish these similar sentences below to emphasise the difference between the first words in them:1) If you broke something expensive in a shop and no one saw you...2) Provided you broke something expensive in a shop and no one saw you...3) Supposing you broke something expensive in a shop and no one saw you...4) Assuming you broke something expensive in a shop and no one saw you...5) As long as you broke something expensive in a shop and no one saw you...?Thank you!!!

Canadian45 · Accepted Answer

Maria DMy students ask me about the difference between "assuming / supposing / provided / if / as long as". For them this all sounds synonymous and equals to "if". Honestly, for me, too

So, please, could you explain the slight difference between these words so that we can understand the meaning. Or, for example, how can we finish these similar sentences below to emphasise the difference between the first words in them:

1) If you broke something expensive in a shop and no one saw you, (what would you do?) [Y] and is the standard way to say it

2) Provided you broke something expensive in a shop and no one saw you.[N]

3) Suppose you broke something expensive in a shop and no one saw you, (what would you do?) [Y]

4) Assuming you broke something expensive in a shop and no one saw you...[N]

5) As long as you broke something expensive in a shop and no one saw you...[N]

1) and 3) are the only acceptable ways to say that, and they can be said without requiring any context.

CalifJim · Answer

1) If you broke something expensive in a shop and no one saw you...

2) Provided you broke something expensive in a shop and no one saw you...

3) Supposing you broke something expensive in a shop and no one saw you...

4) Assuming you broke something expensive in a shop and no one saw you...

5) As long as you broke something expensive in a shop and no one saw you...?

Yikes! 1, 3, and 4 sound (roughly) synonymous, and even Given that (you broke ...) might be added, but 2 and 5 won't do at all!

provided and as long as can only be used with the second clause:

Provided no one saw you / As long as no one saw you

You can't use these two with an accidental occurrence, and that is the intended meaning of 'you broke something'.

*[Provided / As long as] you slipped on a banana peel and fell into the mud, ... NO!

[Provided / As long as] you keep this a secret, ... YES.

CJ

Canadian45 · Answer

CalifJim 1, 3, and 4 sound (roughly) synonymous, and even Given that (you broke ...) might be added, but 2 and 5 won't do at all!

I rejected 4, because I think 1 and 3(with 'suppose') are clearly better.

CalifJim · Answer

I think 1 and 3(with 'suppose') are clearly better

Right. Nevertheless, I think 'assuming that' is closer in usage to 'supposing that' than it is to either of those others (provided that, as long as). I imagine you probably agree on that point.

CJ

Assuming / supposing / provided / if / as long as

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