provided vs if vs as long as

Question

In my experience, most people will go to the cinema if they really want to see a new film, especially if the special effects are good. They’ll also buy a home copy of a film they like if / provided / as long as it’s cheap enough.

Why in the first sentence, only "if" can be used? But in the second sentence "if", "provided", "as long as" can be used?

GPY · Accepted Answer

I don't agree that "provided" and "as long as" are not possible in the first sentence. Perhaps these expressions tend to emphasise sufficient condition more than "if", so perhaps they are not such a good fit with the "especially ..." clause, but it does not seem clear-cut.

GPY · Answer

Sorry, I should clarify that I was talking about the first "if" in the sentence. Is that the one you meant?

John liao · Answer

Sorry, I forgot to clarify the first "if" is in "most people will go to the cinema if they really want to see a new film", as it is marked wrong in my online exercise automatically when I also choose "provided" or "as long as".

CalifJim · Answer

john liao In my experience, most people will go to the cinema if they really want to see a new film, especially if the special effects are good. They’ll also buy a home copy of a film they like if / provided / as long as it’s cheap enough.Why in the first sentence, only "if" can be used? But in the second sentence "if", "provided", "as long as" can be used?

Interesting question.

provided and as long as are not so likely to refer to conditions that are "internal" to the people in the situation. They'll go if they want to. Their feelings of wanting to go are "internal". These feelings cannot be judged to be present or not by an external observer. In contrast, They'll buy the film provided it's cheap enough. Here any observer can see the price of the film. The price is an "external" condition.
________________

Similarly, a native speaker would probably not think of provided or as long as as their first choice in the gaps shown below.

____ I feel it's necessary, I'll increase the protein content by adding an egg.
Our distinguished guest may sit in the big leather chair ___ he wishes to.
When you play this piano sonata, you can skip the introduction ___ you'd like to.

CJ

John liao · Answer

Understand, thank you very much.

provided vs if vs as long as

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