TOEIC/ In case

Question

______________ you do not receive the original invoice, we will enclose a copy with this letter.(A) While(B) Whether(C) In case(D) As long asI chose (C), which is the correct answer. But I also think (D) sounds OK. Can I choose (D) too? Why not?

GPY · Accepted Answer

"as long as you do not X" implies that X is an unwanted or unexpected action (from the speaker's point of view). For example, "The phone is water-resistant up to a point -- as long as you do not actually sumberge it in water".

In your sentence, receiving the original invoice is what is wanted/expected, so "as long as" does not fit.

CalifJim · Answer

Following on GPY's remarks, note how "as long as you don't" indicates the undesirable situation or action in these examples.

As long as you don't miss any payments, the lender probably won't give you any problems.
The climb is strenuous, but you should be able to do it as long as you don't have vertigo.
Activity decreases inflammation and swelling, as long as you don't overdo it.
Your son will appreciate your efforts as long as you don't tell him what to do.
As long as you don't have any pets in the yard, it's all right to spray this insecticide around the perimeter of your home.

Note also the similarity to "but you mustn't". It's not an exact equivalent, but it's in the same family of ideas.

The lender won't give you any problems, but you mustn't miss any payments.
You can spray this insecticide near your home, but you mustn't have any pets nearby at the time.

"unless you" is also in the same family. And so is "but only if you don't"

The lender won't give you problems unless you miss your payments.
You should be able to do this climb unless you have vertigo.

The lender won't give you problems, but only if you don't miss your payments.
You should be able to do this climb, but only if you don't have vertigo.

_________________

as long as
doesn't fit your example because it would mean something like

We will enclose a copy of the invoice with this letter, but you mustn't receive the original invoice.

CJ

TOEIC/ In case

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