But用法小结

but既可作连词、介词、副词又有一些习惯搭配和固定用法。现对其用法作以归纳。

一、 but用作连词

1.用作等立连词,使其前后的词、短语、从句相互对照,作“但是;然而;可是”解。如:

She is young but very experienced.    她虽然年轻但经验丰富。

2.用于表示歉意的话语后,表示有礼貌地拒绝或不赞成。如:

I'm sorry, but I disaGREe with you.    对不起,我不同意你的意见。

3.引导从句,与前面的否定词对应,作“无……而不……”解。如:

It never rains but it pours.    不雨则已,一雨倾盆。

I never go past that house but I think of my miserable life in the old society.我走过那所房子时,没有一次不想起我在旧社会所过的悲惨生活。

二、but用作介词

1.与no, nobody, nothing, none, who等词连用,作“除……之外”解,用来排除同类,从整体中除去一部分。如:

Nobody knew her but me.    除我以外,没有人认识她。

Nothing but disaster would come from such a plan. 这个计划只能带来灾难,别无益处。

2.but前若有do的某种形式(did,does)时,but后的动词不定式就省略to;若无则带to。如:

We had no choice but to wait.    除了等待我们别无选择。

He did nothing all day long but watch TV.    一整天他除了看电视无所事事。

3.与last, next及one, two等连用,作“倒数第二、第三”等解。如:

Jack was the last but one to arrive.    杰克是倒数第二个到达的。

Take the next turning but two on your left.    在你左方第三个转弯处转弯。

三、but用作副词   

1.相当于only,意为“不过;只”,后面跟名词或动词。如:

Tom is still but a child. 汤姆只是个孩子。

2.用在can后意为“只能”;用在cannot后意为“不得不”。如:

I can but hurry back.    我只能赶紧回来。

I cannot but admire his bravery.    我不得不钦佩他的勇气。

3.用在too...to...结构前表肯定意义。如:

I'm but too glad to go there with you.    我非常高兴和你一起去那里。

四、but的习惯用语

1.but for=without意为“要不是;如果没有”,相当于虚拟条件句。如:

But for the rain (If it didn't rain), we would have a pleasant journey.要不是下雨,我们这次旅行就惬意了。

But for your help, we couldn't have carried out the plan. 如果没有你的帮助,我们不可能实现那个计划。

2.but that=except that意为“若非;要不是”,引导虚拟句。如:

He would have helped me but that he was short of money at that time.要不是他那时候没钱,他会帮助我的。

3.but then=on the other hand意为“不过;在另一方面”。如:

London is a noisy place, but then it's also a place where you get the best entertainment.伦敦是个闹市,不过它也是能够给你最好娱乐的地方。

4.nothing but=only意为“只;不过是”。如:

We could see nothing but water.    我们只看见一大片水。

5.not...but...意为“不是……而是……”。连接两个并列成分,后面可跟名词、形容词、副词、短语、从句等。如:

My bag is not black but red. 我的书包不是黑的而是红的。

the letter is addressed not to me but to you. 这封信不是写给我的而是写给你的。

He failed not because he isn't clever but because he didn't work hard.他失败了不是因为他不聪明而是因为他没努力。

6.not only...but also...意为“不但……而且……;既……又……”,连接两个并列成分。如:

Not only you but also she has to attend the meeting.不但你而且她也必须参加这次会议。

He not only teaches us English but also does other things.他不但教我们英语而且还干别的事情。

7.not that...but that...意为“不是……而是……”。如:

Not that the car is out of order, but that I've not learned to drive it.不是汽车出了故障,而是我还没学会开车。

8.can't help but do...意为“不能不……;忍不住……”。如:

I can't help but cry.    我忍不住哭了。