Questions & Answers about Miễn là modem ổn, tôi có thể truy cập mạng.
What does miễn là mean in this sentence?
Miễn là means as long as, provided that, or so long as.
It introduces a condition that must be true for the main clause to happen:
- Miễn là modem ổn, tôi có thể truy cập mạng. = As long as the modem is working fine, I can access the internet.
It is a little different from a basic if:
- nếu = if
- miễn là = as long as / provided that
So miễn là often sounds a bit stronger or more specific about the condition.
Why is there no word for is in modem ổn?
Vietnamese often does not use a copula like is/are before adjectives.
So:
- modem ổn literally looks like modem okay
- natural English: the modem is okay / the modem is working fine
This is very common in Vietnamese:
- Tôi mệt. = I am tired.
- Trời nóng. = The weather is hot.
- Máy tốt. = The machine is good.
So ổn works as the predicate by itself.
What does ổn mean here?