but
- 01 A1 Beginner
conj.used to introduce a statement that is different from what you just said.
conj.used to introduce a clause that contrasts with or contradicts the preceding statement.
Simple“I wanted to go for a walk, but it started to rain.”
In context“The initial results of the study were promising, but the research team cautioned that further peer-reviewed trials were necessary before drawing conclusions.”
Synonyms - 02 B1 Intermediate
prep.used to mean 'except' or 'apart from'.
prep.used to indicate an exception to a preceding general statement, often following negative or universal quantifiers like 'no one' or 'everyone'.
Simple“Everyone in the office attended the meeting but the manager.”
In context“The committee found no alternative but to postpone the project until the necessary funding could be secured through private investment.”
- 03 C1 Advanced
adv.used to mean 'only' or 'just'.
adv.used as a restrictive adverb meaning 'merely' or 'no more than'.
Simple“He is but a child and does not understand the rules yet.”
In context“The grand cathedral, once a symbol of imperial power, was now but a crumbling ruin reclaimed by the surrounding forest.”
- 04 C1 Advanced
adv.used at the end of a sentence to mean 'however'.
adv.used as a sentence-final conjunctive adverb to indicate a contrast with a previous statement.
Simple“It was a very expensive car, but.”
In context“The weather was miserable for the entire trip; we had a great time, but.”
UsageIn certain dialects, particularly in Scotland and Northern England, 'but' is placed at the end of a clause for emphasis or contrast.
- 05 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a reason for not doing something or a doubt.
n.an objection, caveat, or condition, typically used in the plural phrase 'no ifs, ands, or buts'.
Simple“I want you to finish your homework now—no buts.”
In context“The contract was signed without any 'buts' from the legal department, much to the relief of the negotiating team.”
For Spanish speakers Spanish has no /ʌ/. Speakers substitute the nearer /a/ or /e/ of 'pero', rendering 'but' as /bat/ or /bet/.
Spanish renders restrictive 'only' with 'sólo' or 'solamente', so the adverbial 'but' (meaning 'only') goes unrecognized. Fixed frames such as 'cannot but' and 'is but a' correspond to 'no puede sino' and 'no es más que', which do not map word-for-word onto the conjunction.
For Mandarin speakers Mandarin often uses the paired structure '虽然...但是...' (suīrán... dànshì...), leading learners to include both 'although' and 'but' in a single English sentence, creating a redundant double-conjunction error like 'Although it was raining, but he went out.'
The Mandarin phrase '不是...而是...' (bùshì... érshì...) often leads to the misuse of 'but' to replace 'rather' or 'instead' in contrastive contexts where English requires specific adverbial structures.
For Japanese speakers Japanese syntax allows conjunctions like 'but' at the start of a sentence or as a sentence-final particle (e.g., 〜けど ~kedo) to soften a statement. This leads speakers to frequently start sentences with 'But...' in formal writing or end sentences with 'but' to imply hesitation, which reads as unfinished in English.
The Japanese construction 'A ではなく B' (A dewa naku B) translates to 'Not A but B'. Because the Japanese particle 'wa' emphasizes the contrast, speakers often over-insert 'but' into sentences where a simple 'not' or a different connective would be more natural in English.