Once vs. As Soon As
'Once' as a conjunction can be used interchangeably with 'as soon as.' In this lesson, we will learn more about them.
What Is Their Main Difference?
The main difference between 'once' and 'as soon as' is that 'once' is more common than 'as soon as.'
Similarities and Differences
Parts of Speech
'Once' and 'as soon as' are conjunctions. They are classified as subordinating conjunctions of time. Have a look:
Take the candies and run
Take the candies and run
Meaning
'Once' as a conjunction means 'as soon as.' We can use these two conjunctions interchangeably to express that immediately after an action, another action or event follows. Watch:
We went home
We went home
Warning
'Once' can also be used as an adverb. As an adverb, it means 'one single time.' You cannot replace 'once' as an adverb with 'as soon as' because the meaning would be lost.