• pyre@lemmy.world
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    9 days ago

    the fact that you don’t have a positive version of anymore except for approximations like nowadays is the problem. other languages have a word for “from a certain point on” that can be used in both positive and negative sense.

    you have no longer which also functions like anymore but I can’t think of an opposite for that either.

    from now on is the only thing I can think of that can be used in both senses but that’s only useful for specific times (you could say from then on too, but the then has to be specified).

    there’s clearly a need for it so people use anymore in a positive sense. why not.

    • untorquer@lemmy.world
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      9 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
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        9 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
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          9 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
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        9 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
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          9 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
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            9 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

    • corbs132@lemm.ee
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      9 days ago

      What about have since? “Banks have since planned for this tactic”

      I guess it still implies a specific time/event, but maybe it’s a little less clunky than “from then on”

      • pyre@lemmy.world
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        9 days ago

        no the use of participle makes the time non-specific, and it’s a good alternative. it just changes the sentence altogether. I was trying to address the need for using a word exactly the way you would use anymore but for positive sentences. someone suggested “now” which is pretty close but I think doesn’t work in all cases.

    • Mustakrakish@lemmy.world
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      9 days ago

      “After that” “Now” “In current day” “That doesn’t work anymore, as banks plan against it”

      • pyre@lemmy.world
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        9 days ago

        nope. both specific.

        banks plan for this tactic since then / thenceforth

        doesn’t work

        • wolframhydroxide@sh.itjust.works
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          9 days ago

          That’s because, in English, that tense should actually be “banks have planned”. It doesn’t make these options any less correct. If you want to use “banks plan”, just put “now”

          The idealized formulation of this sentence would be “thenceforth, banks planned for this tactic”, “since then, banks have planned for this tactic”, or “banks plan for this tactic now”

      • pyre@lemmy.world
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        9 days ago

        yes but the thing about anymore is that the “certain point” isn’t specified. “people don’t do this anymore” could mean they stopped yesterday or 500 years ago. it’s not even necessarily relevant. to be able to say “since then” you need to know when “then” is in the first place.