Learn English with English, baby!

Join for FREE!

Social_nav_masthead_logged_in

English Forums

Use our English forums to learn English. The message boards are great for English questions and English answers. The more you contribute, the more all members can practice English!

:  

English Talk

Need help, "no more than" or "not more than"?

Gucci Yeung

China

It really confused me. I don’t know the differences between “no more than” and “not more than”. For example, “She eats nothing but drinks no more than two bottles of orange juice” and “She eats nothing but drinks not more than two bottles of orange juice”, which one is correct?

05:30 AM Jun 30 2010 |

The iTEP® test

  • Schedule an iTEP® test and take the official English Practice Test.

    Take Now >

tiffintime

tiffintime

Sri Lanka

The two phrases probably have almost the same meaning.

 http://ask.metafilter.com/95640/No-more-than-vs-not-more-than

 

06:49 AM Jun 30 2010 |

h-a-h

h-a-h

Bahrain

I think both are correct too

10:33 AM Jun 30 2010 |

Gucci Yeung

China

Hi tiffintime, riad, h-a-h and nat, thank you all for telling me your opinions. So, maybe both are correct but “not more than” is more standard?

03:59 PM Jun 30 2010 |

Cz

Cz

Nigeria

You are right, i believe in you…

07:47 PM Jun 30 2010 |

labrooy61

labrooy61

Australia

Technically "not more than" is correct but I think in general usage "no more than" is acceptable as well.  I know that as a native english speaker I would probably be more inclined to use "no more than" as would most of us.

11:28 PM Jun 30 2010 |

tiffintime

tiffintime

Sri Lanka

 “She eats nothing but drinks no more than two bottles of orange juice” and “She eats nothing but drinks not more than two bottles of orange juice”,

I think you could also say "drinks not over two bottles"; but it wouldn't sound right if you said "drinks no over two bottles".   

http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/more-than-versus-over.aspx

http://www.copyblogger.com/5-common-mistakes-that-make-you-look-dumb/

 

05:46 AM Jul 02 2010 |