ENGLISH
REFERENCE

no more than

fixed phr..
B1 Intermediate Oxford

fixed phr.. used to say that a number or amount is the limit and not higher.

fixed phr.. a restrictive phrase indicating a maximum limit or quantity; functions as a quantifier meaning 'at most' or 'only'.


SIMPLE

The trip will cost no more than fifty dollars.

CONTEXTUAL

You should spend no more than twenty minutes on the first section of the exam to ensure you finish on time.

COMPLEX

The research suggests that no more than five percent of the population possesses the specific genetic marker required for the study.

Usage

usually precedes a number, measurement, or quantity to emphasize that it is small or a strict limit.

Teaching tip

contrast with 'not more than'; while 'not more than' is a neutral statement of fact, 'no more than' often emphasizes that the amount is surprisingly small or strictly controlled.

Pitfall

The bag weighs no more that five kilos.The bag weighs no more than five kilos.comparative structures always use 'than' rather than 'that' to link the limit to the quantity.

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