How can I correctly use the following conjunctions concerning time expressions: as, as long as and while? Also, would you be kind enough to give me some examples of use of these two expressions: as a basis for and on the basis of?
as or while We can use as or while to talk about two longer actions that are in progress at the same time:
As a general rule, we tend to use while here rather than asbecause as has many different meanings and uses. It could be confusing if as meaning while could be mistaken for as meaningbecause:
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as or when We use as or when to talk about two short events that happen at the same moment. As and when are often used with just in this context. We cannot use while here:
However, if we want to say that when one thing changes another changes at the same time, when one is the consequence of the other, we tend to use as:
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while or when In more formal speech and writing, it is possible to leave outsubject + be with when and while when main and subordinate clauses refer to the same subject. We cannot use as in this way:
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as long as: expressing time The as ... as construction is used when we are making comparisons and comparing ideas of similar magnitude or duration
as long as: expressing condition Note that as long as is also used in conditional sentences as an alternative to provided, meaning if and only if. So long as is also possible in this context:
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on a ... basis The noun basis suggests a particular method or system for organising or doing something. We have the expressions on a/an hourly/daily/monthly/annual/temporary/permanent basis:
on the basis of / as a basis for Here we have two further expressions with basis with a slightly different meaning. Used with the preposition on, method or system is suggested. Used with the preposition as, ideas, facts or actions from which something can develop is suggested:
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From: BBC Learning English - http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/
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