Intermediate English Course - Level 6A - Lesson 2 of 10

No Longer / Not Anymore / Still

Listen to four English conversations using no longer to discuss routines.

Script
Grammar
Quiz

Conversation #1

Man: Do you still work with Jill?
Woman: No, I don't work with her anymore.
Man: Oh, really, why?
Woman: She no longer works in my department.
Man: Oh, that's too bad. I know you really liked working with her.
Woman: Yeah, works not longer the same now that she's gone.

Conversation #2

Man: Do you still have that set of golf clubs?
Woman: Not anymore. I sold them.
Man: What? You sold them? Why?
Woman: Well, I don't play anymore, so I no longer needed them.
Man: Oh, bummer. I need some clubs for tomorrow.
Woman: Well, I'm sure you can rent some at the club.

Conversation #3

Man: Do you still hang out with Joe?
Woman: No, not that much anymore. He moved.
Man: Oh really. I didn't know that. Why did he move?
Woman: His company no longer needed him.
Man: Oh, I'm really sorry to hear that. Is he OK?
Woman: He's OK. He got back on his feet. He got another job, but just in another town.
Man: Well, that's good to hear.

Conversation #4

Woman: Do you and your wife still do salsa dancing?
Man: No, not anymore. We just don't have time.
Woman: Oh, really. That's too bad. I know you really liked it.
Man: Yeah, plus the studio is no longer there. It moved across town. It's actually by where you live now.
Woman: Oh, really, I should check it out.
Man: Yeah, if you go, I might even drive across town to join you.
Woman: I'd like that.

No Longer / Not Anymore / Still

Point 1: We use the phrase ‘no longer’ to show that we have stopped doing something. It means ‘not … anymore’ but has a slightly stronger emphasis. Notice the examples:

I no longer work downtown.
I don’t work downtown anymore.
That shop no longer serves free coffee.
That shop does not server free coffee anymore.
He no longer lives there.
He does not live there anymore.
The course is no longer offered.
The course is not offered anymore.

Point 2: The phrase ‘no longer’ usually goes before the main verb. It usually goes after the first auxiliary verb or modal verb. If both are present, it goes after the fist modal verb.

Before Main Verb (One Verb)

Simple Present
I no longer play tennis.
She no longer livers here.
By 2003, I no longer lived there.

After Auxiliary or Modal (Two Verbs)

He is no longer coming.
I can no longer accept this.

After Modal, Before Auxiliary (Three Verbs)

He may no longer be living here.
As of today, we will no longer be accepting paper money.

Point 3: Question Form - The phrase is rarely used in the questions form, but it does appear rarely.

Doesn’t Bob work here anymore?
Does Bob no longer work here? (Shocked at the possibility)

The phrase is sometimes used to inquire about a possibility.

A: Is he no longer coming?
B: Yes, he is still coming. / No, not anymore.

A: Is the meeting no longer happening?
B: Yes, it is still on. / No, not anymore. It was canceled.

Point 4: Still is the opposite of ‘not anymore’ and ’no longer’ and is often used to show comparisons.

He no longer works here, but she still does.
I no longer play tennis, but my wife still does.
I still speak with my uncle, but my brother no longer does. They had a falling out.

Point 5: Still is often used in questions. Notice the following ways to respond to the question.

Do you still play tennis?
- Yes, I still do.
- No, not anymore.
Do you still have that old bicycle?
- Yes, I do.
- No, I no longer have it.
Do you still hang out with Bob?
- Yes, all the time.
- Not so much anymore.
Do you still play futsal on Tuesday nights?
- Yes, we still do.
- Not anymore.