Friday 18 April 2014

Don't Give Me Any More Trouble.


Any more or anymore? What is the difference in North American usage?


Any more (two words) is an adjective phrase that means, any additional:
 The dragon didn't want any more onions added to his soup pot.
Anymore (one word) is an adverb that means, still, any longer, nowadays, and can be used in a negative or a positive sense:
      Negative sense:  Apparently, the king doesn't like onions anymore.
      Positive sense:  The royal councilman wanted to know if the dragon grew onions anymore. 

Another way to think about the distinction is: anymore is used to indicate time, any more indicates quantity or degree.

     The king doesn't like onions anymore  (any longer) because he doesn't want any more (any additional) embarrassing burping episodes in the royal court.

One more rule: when you follow with the preposition than, always use the adjective phrase any more.

     The royal councilman didn't appreciate the king's burbs any more than the king liked expelling them.

However, British English often identifies anymore as an alternative spelling for any more. So, depending where your kingdom is, the royal rules vary.                         

  
More on my dragon books for children:  http://www.dragonsbook.com

copyright Diane Mae Robinson, 2014                                                                                                         


   

8 comments:

  1. GREAT! NAME! for the GRAMMAR! BOOK! dragon books for children Call it Dragon Grammar for Kids (Children). Yeah! Now I get a co-author credit. All right! or is it Alright? Dang. Hurry up with that book, will ya?

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    1. Alright, I will hurry with the book. I have 49 pages done so far and still going strong--lots to say about grammar. I love it: Dragon Grammar for Kids. I may just use that and dedicate a whole page to my friend the great book reviewer and dragon lover.

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  2. Oh, yeah. I somehow forgot to say . . . really good post. I love how you distinguish between any more and anymore. Anymore, I get them mixed up. I love these grammar lessons.

    I wish I could post this one tomorrow but I have another tour. Today I have a cute character interview. Don't tell Snarls, but this Monster fellow is cool. Sorry. As Boy said to Monster, "This was a shameless plug."

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  3. Snarls wants to know who this Monster fellow is and just what does he mean to you. Don't ask me. Snarls asked.

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  4. Did you read the interview? It was no where - or is that nowhere - near the length of the one for your last book but it is funny in its short and sweet way. I'm not saying. You will, or Snarls will, have to go read it before it drops off the image queue. I like that word queue. Like conundrum, I like that too.

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  5. I read the interview. You are hilarious. And Monster and Boy are funny fun fun too, Great interview from a great book reviewer. Snarls does have his nose a little out of joint though--he thinks you talk/write in conundrums.

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  6. What happened to Dragon Grammar for Kids? Now it is Grammar for Children and Dragons? I really like the latter.

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  7. Well, I thought that since the book was going to be bought for kids to read that the word "Children" should appear first.I only know one dragon and he will expect me to give him the book. Title still forthcoming--I'm still thinking on it. I like both titles.

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