As Long As vs. Until

'As long as' and 'until' are used to express time. In this lesson, we will discover their similarities and differences.

What Is Their Main Difference?

The main difference between 'as long as' and 'until' is that 'as long as' is used only as a conjunction while 'until' can be used as a conjunction and a preposition.

Parts of Speech

'As long as' is a conjunction. While, 'until' can be used as both conjunction and preposition.

I would come as long as Nina comes too.

We can make it to the next city until midnight.

We have until tomorrow morning to keep them busy.

Time

'As long as' and 'until' often point at different time lines.
'As long as' mainly focuses on the future conditions or events:

You can have more chocolate as long as you promise to finish your dinner first.

We will consider joining as long as the benefits are worth it.

'Until' mainly focuses on exppressing conditions and actions at the present moment:

I'm at work until six p.m.

We can stay here until the rain stops.

Usage

'Until' is used to show that something happens up to a certain time. In other words, we are setting deadlines or making a guess as to when a action will come to an end.

I can't wait until the school begin.

We will wait until harry is done with his shower.

'As long as' is also used to express conditions. It is used in conditional sentences. It shows specific conditions on a situation. 'As long as' is mostly used in spoken English.

We can have dinner outside as long as you are alright with it.

I could help you as long as you listen to what I say.

Position in a Sentence

'As long as' can be used at the beginning of the sentence while 'until' cannot be used as the beginning of the sentence.

We can go to the park as long as you behave.

As long as you behave, we can go to the park.

No one left the house until the storm came to an end.

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