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Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

cannot anymore
Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

Table of contents

Usage summary

Human-verified examples

Expert writing tips

Linguistic context

Ludwig's wrap-up

Alternative expressions

FAQs

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

He cannot anymore.

News & Media

The New York Times

The Yankees used to do that, but they know they cannot anymore.

News & Media

The New York Times - Sports

The pope is "implicitly" saying, he said, "that you cannot anymore raise the objection that any use of the condom is an intrinsic evil".

News & Media

The New York Times

Autobiography cannot anymore be spiritualand the obviously sexual dimensionsof experience laid out before alla spatchcocked chicken the cook mentioned she'd make you for dinnerafter she serviced the young monsieuron the staircase.

News & Media

The New Yorker

Obviously, graft-versus-host disease cannot anymore be handled as a binary variable.

Science

Annals of Intensive Care

Lets say that a huge storm is coming up and the pilot cannot anymore escape the situation.

Science

Empirical Research in Vocational Education and Training

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

"Peace cannot wait anymore".

News & Media

The Guardian

We cannot rest anymore.

News & Media

The Guardian - Music

That cannot happen anymore.

News & Media

The New York Times

We cannot wait anymore.

News & Media

The New York Times

Mr. Pepe cannot read anymore.

News & Media

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "cannot anymore" specifically when you want to emphasize the point in time at which an action or state became impossible.

Common error

Avoid splitting the verb phrase with "anymore" (e.g. "cannot anymore do it") in most contexts. While technically understandable, it is far more natural to place the adverb at the end of the predicate to avoid disrupting the direct object relationship.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

93%

Authority and reliability

4.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cannot anymore" functions as a negative modal verb construction paired with a temporal adverb. In this configuration, the modal verb "cannot" expresses a lack of ability or permission, while the adverb "anymore" modifies the timeframe of that inability. Ludwig data shows it is frequently used to signal a definitive transition from a state of possibility to one of impossibility.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

Social Media

Encyclopedias

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "cannot anymore" is a robust and grammatically sound phrase used to describe the end of a capacity or permission. Analysis from Ludwig reveals that it is a versatile tool used across high-authority platforms, from the analytical reports of The New York Times to complex scientific discussions in journals like Cell Death and Disease. While perfectly correct, writers aiming for a highly polished or academic tone might consider using "can no longer" as a more integrated alternative. Regardless, the phrase remains a staple for expressing definitive change in both professional and journalistic English.

More alternative expressions(10)

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

can no longer

Provides a more formal and structurally integrated alternative suitable for academic writing.

cannot any longer

Uses a slightly more emphatic adverbial form to stress the time duration.

can't do it anymore

A more informal, contracted version common in spoken English.

are no longer able to

Replaces the modal verb with a periphrastic construction for increased clarity.

cease to

A more concise and formal verb choice that focuses on the end of the action.

cannot now

Shifts the focus specifically to the present moment rather than the duration.

will not be able to anymore

Moves the inability into a future-looking perspective.

lack the ability to any longer

A more verbose and descriptive way to express a loss of capacity.

can no more

A literary or poetic variation that sounds somewhat archaic in modern prose.

cannot further

Emphasizes the inability to continue an ongoing process or progression.

FAQs

How do I use "cannot anymore" in a sentence?

You use it to indicate that something was possible in the past but is no longer possible now, such as "I "cannot anymore" tolerate this behavior" or "He "cannot anymore" play professional sports due to his injury".

Is "cannot anymore" formal enough for a research paper?

While it is correct, academic writers often prefer "can no longer" or "is no longer able to" for a more sophisticated tone.

What is the difference between "cannot anymore" and "can no longer"?

There is no semantic difference, but "can no longer" is typically seen as more formal and is more common in written literature, whereas "cannot anymore" appears frequently in journalism and speech.

Can I use "anymore" as one word or two words?

When used as an adverb meaning 'any longer', it is written as one word: "anymore". If you are referring to a quantity of something, you use two words, such as "not any more" cake.

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Table of contents

Usage summary

Human-verified examples

Expert writing tips

Linguistic context

Ludwig's wrap-up

Alternative expressions

FAQs

Source & Trust

93%

Authority and reliability

4.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences:

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cannot anymoreGrammar usage guide and real-world examples

cannot anymore
Grammar usage guide and real-world examples