anylonger

Hello!

Is there a difference between the two following sentences?:


I'm not available at that time anymore.

I'm not available at that time any longer?


Thanks

El

[banderas]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Hello!

Is there a difference between the two following sentences?:


I'm not available at that time anymore.

I'm not available at that time any longer?


Thanks

El

In theory, we use "any more" for events and
we use "any longer" for processes
is "not being available at that time" a process or an event?
In practice, "he could stand the pain any longer".
Pain is a process, in the sense of a continual action
but any more could be used in informal speech.

[Will17]

Thanks Banderas.Could I have the opinion of a native speaker, please?THanks

[Will17]

up!

I don't really understand the "process and non process" theory, could someone else help me please?

[vil]

Hi Will17,

There are two very brief and clear definitions of the “confusing” words.

process = a series of actions, changes, or functions bringing about a result: the process of digestion; the process of obtaining a driver's license.

non-process = when the process stumbles or halts, state, condition, situation, status.

Regards.

V.

[naomimalan]

Originally Posted by Will17

Thanks Banderas.Could I have the opinion of a native speaker, please?THanks

Sorry to disagree with Banderas because I really appreciate his (her?) posts but in fact the two terms are interchangeable if you're talking about something that has stopped happening or is no longer true.

(see "Collins Cobuild English Dictionary", 1995 : "any: 6"
"Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English", Fourth Edition: "anymore")

[banderas]

Originally Posted by naomimalan

Sorry to disagree with Banderas because I really appreciate his (her?)his posts but in fact the two terms are interchangeable if you're talking about something that has stopped happening or is no longer true.

(see "Collins Cobuild English Dictionary", 1995 : "any: 6"
"Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English", Fourth Edition: "anymore")

Thanks for your post.

I don't buy books any more. (or any longer)?
I can not wait any longer. I need to go.(or any more)?
Is there realy no difference?
Any native speakers, please?

[vil]

Attention: I'm not a teacher.

Hi

There is again my two cents contribution concerning the matter in question.

There is no doubt about the fact that in practice, exclusion occurs every day. I made a brief exploration concerning the usage of the adverbs “anymore” and “any longer” which led me nowhere. I didn’t obtain a definite result. I think we have to make a difference between anymore and any more. On the analogy of the naomimalan's statement, I am sceptical about Banderas' rule. Presumably there is such rule, but not very many follow it.

There are further examples which should to put the present theme in a favorable light.

What's more, as you start reading, he's not a character any longer, he's real. (state)
So don't put it off any longer. (action)
None of his lyrics are a mystery any longer. (event)
Pain she had been done with, which she should not have to feel any longer. (action)
I can't wait for spring any longer.

In standard American English the word anymore is often found in negative sentences: They don't live here anymore. But anymore is widely used in regional American English in positive sentences with the meaning “nowadays”: “We use a gas stove anymore” (Oklahoma informant in DARE). Its use, which appears to be spreading, is centered in the South Midland and Midwestern states, as well as in the Western states that received settlers from those areas. The earliest recorded examples are from Northern Ireland, where the positive use of anymore still occurs.

anymore = a) any longer; at the present
b) From now on: We promised not to quarrel anymore.

any longer (adv.) at the present or from now on; usually used with a negative
Synonym: anymore
any longer (idiom)

1.With added length, as in

If this skirt were any longer it would sweep the floor.

2. Still, any more, as in

They don't make this model any longer. This negative form is often put as no longer.

any more

not anymore = not any longer:

Nick doesn't live here anymore. (action)
She told me not to phone her anymore. (action)

no longer/not any longer used when something used to happen or be true in the past but does not happen or is not true now:

The extra workers won't be needed any longer.
It's no longer a secret.
anymore = still: at present and continuing from a point in the past ( used in negative statements and questions )
They sure don't make them like this anymore!

from now on: from the present and ongoing ( used in negative statements and questions )
I'm not tolerating this anymore. (action)

nowadays: these days ( nonstandard or regional ) ( used in positive sentences )
We always use a taxi anymore.

anymore or any more?
Anymore is an adverb: She doesn't live here anymore.Don't you eat out anymore?
The two-word form any more refers to any unspecified additional amount, as in Is there any more pasta left? The two should not be confused.
If you don't like pizza "anymore" (any longer), then you probably don't want to eat "any more" (an additional amount) of it.
Do you read much anymore? (action)

If you do that anymore, I'll leave. (action)

The Washingtonian is too sophisticated to believe anymorein solutions. (action)

Any longer; a. at the present: Do they make this model anymore? b. From now on: We promised not to quarrel anymore.

Regards.

V.

[banderas]

Originally Posted by vil

Attention: I'm not a teacher.

Hi

There is again my two cents contribution concerning the matter in question.

There is no doubt about the fact that in practice, exclusion occurs every day. I made a brief exploration concerning the usage of the adverbs “anymore” and “any longer” which led me nowhere. I didn’t obtain a definite result. I think we have to make a difference between anymore and any more. On the analogy of the naomimalan's statement, I am sceptical about Banderas' rule. Presumably there is such rule, but not very many follow it.
And this is why I wrote in my original post:

"In theory, we use "any more" for events and
we use "any longer" for processes
is "not being available at that time" a process or an event?
In practice, "he could stand the pain any longer".
Pain is a process, in the sense of a continual action
but any more could be used in informal speech.
Which simply means that it doesn not really matter what form you use. What I learned on these forums is that:"The reality is, to be truly fluent and conversant, one needs to learn a couple of Englishes: the real English that people actually speak and the Institutional English used in formal communication. In my own view, the latter is not so much a language as a set of arbitrary, socially demanded conventions. I have yet to meet a single English speaker who speaks so-called "Standard English."
Thank you JJM Balantyne!
So when I said "In theory" I meant Standard/Institutional English. when I said "In practice" I meant the "real" English. It is like the argument over "to me and for me" forms. It does not matter in the real English if you say " any longer or any more" although I personaly am not sure if I said " I can not wait any more". I would say "I can not wait any longer" instead. Can any native speaker comment on this example, please?

V.

d

[naomimalan]

Originally Posted by banderas

Thanks for your post.

I don't buy books any more. (or any longer)?
I can not wait any longer. I need to go.(or any more)?
Is there realy no difference?
Any native speakers, please?

Despite what the dictionaries say, the second sentence does sound a bit weird to me with "any more", Banderas. Here I would definitely be inclined to put "any longer" rather than any more: "I can't wait any longer."

So far, I haven't found anything in the grammar books that would substantiate a theory in favour of a distinction but I'll keep on searching.
What about you?