"Still" = something that continues; "anymore" = something that no longer happens.
Up to now, yet, continuing. Indicates something that started before is still in progress.
Are you still waiting for an answer? It has been three weeks.
¿Todavia estas esperando una respuesta? Han sido tres semanas.
She still loves him, even after everything.
Ella todavia lo ama, despues de todo.
I still do not understand why he left.
Todavia no entiendo por que se fue.
No longer. Indicates something that used to happen has stopped. Always in negative sentences.
I do not eat meat anymore. I stopped two years ago.
Ya no como carne. Pare hace dos anos.
She does not live here anymore — she moved to Berlin.
Ella ya no vive aqui. Se mudo a Berlin.
We do not talk anymore after what happened.
Ya no hablamos despues de lo que paso.
Common mistake
Using "still" when you mean "no longer": "I still don't eat meat" = I have not yet started eating meat (implying I might). "I don't eat meat anymore" = I stopped eating meat. They are opposites. Also: "anymore" always appears in negative sentences. "I eat meat anymore" does not exist in standard English.
Trick to remember it
Visual trick: "still" = the timeline keeps going and the action continues. "Anymore" = the line cuts off, it stopped. "She still works there" (continues). "She doesn't work there anymore" (stopped). Always negative: "not... anymore".
Quick rule
Still + positive = still continuing. Not + anymore = no longer happening. They are opposite structures.
Did you know?
In some American English dialects (especially the South and Midwest), "anymore" sometimes appears in positive sentences meaning "nowadays": "Anymore, everyone has a smartphone." This is non-standard and can confuse learners. In formal and global English, "anymore" always appears in negative sentences.
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
He used to play guitar, but he does not play _____ since he injured his hand.
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
Are you _____ interested in buying the house? The seller is waiting.
Exercise 3 · Form the word
Still + positive = still continuing. Not + anymore = no longer happening. They are opposite structures.
Using "still" when you mean "no longer": "I still don't eat meat" = I have not yet started eating meat (implying I might). "I don't eat meat anymore" = I stopped eating meat. They are opposites. Also: "anymore" always appears in negative sentences. "I eat meat anymore" does not exist in standard English.
Visual trick: "still" = the timeline keeps going and the action continues. "Anymore" = the line cuts off, it stopped. "She still works there" (continues). "She doesn't work there anymore" (stopped). Always negative: "not... anymore".
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy