As Long As: Så länge (som)
When leaving instructions for a house sitter, you will often need to link a rule or condition to a duration of time. In English, we use the phrase "as long as". In Swedish, you express this using the subordinating conjunction så länge.
| as long as | så länge |
You can optionally add the word som after så länge. Both versions are equally common and mean exactly the same thing.
| You can stay here as long as you take care of the dog. | Du får bo här så länge du tar hand om hunden. |
| You can feel safe as long as you remember the alarm code. | Du kan känna dig trygg så länge som du minns larmkoden. |
Because så länge (som) is a subordinating conjunction, it introduces a dependent clause. If you start your sentence with this condition, remember that Swedish's V2 (verb-second) rule applies: the verb of the main clause must come immediately after the comma.
| As long as the cat is outside, the cat flap must be open. | Så länge katten är ute måste kattluckan vara öppen. |
| As long as you take out the garbage, you may watch the TV. | Så länge du bär ut soporna får du titta på teven. |
| As long as you do not touch the thermostat, it is warm on the upper floor. | Så länge som du inte rör termostaten är det varmt på övervåningen. |
Whether you start with the condition or place it at the end, the phrase functions identically. Feel free to use or drop the som as you lay down the ground rules!
| You do not need to water the lawn as long as it rains. | Du behöver inte vattna gräsmattan så länge som det regnar. |
| The house sitter lives on the upper floor as long as we are away. | Husvakten bor på övervåningen så länge som vi är borta. |