Learn English – does “as often as” mean “every time”

meaningmeaning-in-context

I will pay for the meal as often as you make the reservation.

This sentence is from a test. The task was to correct a mistake. I thought the mistake was "for the meal", it had to be "for meal" (like "for breakfast").
But the correct answer is

I will pay for the meal as long as you make the reservation.

I understand this sentence and the special usage "as long as" meaning "only if" ("I'll pay for the meal only if you make the reservation").

But I still wonder if it is really wrong to use "as often as".

I'll try to explain my confusion.

The expression "as … as" usually used to emphasize an adjective/adverb.
So for example there is the sentence "I'll wait as long as you need", here "as long as" has a literally meaning – "duration", "as much time as you need" rather than condition-meaning "only if".

So "as often as" might mean literally "every time" (is it correct?)

I'll say "hello" as often as I see/meet you == here "as often as" means "every time"

So I think the sentence

"I will pay for the meal as often as you make the reservation."

means,

"Every time you make the reservation, I'll pay for the meal".

Can it be this way?
Or is the situation so odd/weird, that can't be in a real life? Is this the reason (unreality) why "as often as" can't be used in this case or is it still a grammar mistake?

Best Answer

Yes it can be that way. It is grammatical, and would be understood as you suggest.

But you probably wouldn't hear a native speaker put ot that way ("as often as"). It might be more usual to say "so long as". Or, more simply "If you make the reservation, I'll pay for the meal."

In any case, your "correction" of taking out "the" was not the right fix. Yes, you say "pay for breakfast" and "pay for lunch", but you pay for A meal or for THE meal. (or cornmeal, or oatmeal). But not just "for meal".

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