• untorquer@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    22
    ·
    edit-2
    12 days ago

    The problem isn’t the word, it’s grammatical.

    I’m not explaining this with proper terms as it’s my first language and didn’t pay attention in class as a kid but: Anymore is negative, but the verb itself needs a negating adverb. In english the correct phrase is:

    Unfortunately, banks plan for this tactic now.

    Which isn’t an approximation. “Now” in context means exactly “from a certain point on”, and is the positive version.

    To grammatically use “anymore” you need to change the wording/structure altogether, and add negation:

    Unfortunately, the tactic doesn’t work on banks anymore

    Alternatively, changing the meaning altogether for the sake of grammar:

    Unfortunately, banks don’t plan for this tactic anymore.

    • SwingingTheLamp@midwest.social
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      12 days ago

      To highlight why it’s wrong, I just use the example of asking if the store has widgets in stock, and the clerk says, “We have any.” (Compare to, “We don’t have any.”)

      • untorquer@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        3
        ·
        12 days ago

        But your example has a glaring flaw! What if the widget store did indeed stock every widget? An excellent boast in that case.

    • pyre@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      8
      arrow-down
      8
      ·
      12 days ago

      you just elaborated on what I said. also I don’t know what you mean by “it’s not the word it’s grammatical”—the only reason it doesn’t grammatically make sense is the because of the word itself. if “mondy” was the word you could be using it either way.

      I disagree that “now” is the positive version of anymore. you can’t use it in past tense. you could use “by then” but I think we’re possibly semantically getting further from “anymore”.

      • untorquer@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        11
        ·
        12 days ago

        They both have a meaning of “presently” with reference to a change that occured in the past.

        ‘Now’ is used when something presently is the case (positive) and ‘anymore’ is used when something presently is no longer the case (negative).

        Anymore is in the present just as much as now is. They both require present tense verbs even though they tell you something of the past.

        • pyre@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          5
          arrow-down
          1
          ·
          12 days ago

          anymore isn’t in the present as much as now is; you can use it with literally any time frame.

          he tried to do it again but they didn’t fall for it anymore

          she can try again but I won’t fall for it anymore

          I would do it again but they weren’t going to fall for it anymore