[连词] 表示两个单词、词组、分句和句子之间的对比: It was cold but sunny.
She ate the vegetables but not the meat. I liked her first book but
the second was very disappointing.I have to go .~But it's only ten o'clock.
[介词]除了：There was no one on the late-night bus but me. I can't give you
anything but love.
语法结构
1 单词/短语 | + but | ( + not )| + 单词/短语
I got the bread but not the milk.
We returned home tired but happy.
They played well but not well engough.
连接两个不同的想法
2 分句 | + but | + 分句
句子. | + but | + 句子
She threw a party but only two people came.
On Monday the storm was still raging.But when we woke on Tuesday morning the
wind had dropped.
通过呈现在上下文中形成对比或令人惊讶的额外信息而连接两个想法.
I would've been on time but the bus was late.
I'd love to come to dinner, but I'll be away.
解释某事没有发生或不可能发生的原因
3 话语. | + But |+ 话语
It's your turn to do the dishes. ~But I did them last night!
I won't be able to help you move.~But you promised!
表示惊讶、生气或不同意。
4 not only | + 单词/短语 | + but| ( + also ) + 单词/短语
The computer is not only slow,but it carshes all the time.
He's not only a brilliant musician,but he's also a talented cook.
强调额外的信息。
搭配
but 用作连词,在口语中其后经常接起强调作用的do:
I don't like mussels but I do like oysters.
We didn't go to Florence but we did go to Siena.
but 用作介词，经常接在nothing,no one,anything,anyone等词的后面:
He dose nothing but complain about his salary.
I'll eat anything but cucumbers.
固定短语
'yes,but'是的，只是...
The movie was good,wasn't it ?~Yes,but it was too long.
在对话中表明不同的观点为。
'I'm sorry, but .../I'd love to,but...' 对不起，.../我想...,但...
Would you like to come with us? ~I'd love to,but I'm just far too busy.
引出道歉的话或借口。
but for ... = except for /if it hadn't been for ...除了，要不是
Everyone's ready but for Helmut.
But for Josie,I don't know what I would have done.
but then(again)...不过，但另一方面
She speaks fluent Arabic,But then,she did live in Egypt for ten years.
表示刚才所说并不令人吃惊。
all but ... = almost completely 几乎完全地;几乎彻底地
They had all but given up hope of rescue.
the last but one = not hte last one but the one before the last one 倒数第二
Our house is the last but one on the left-hand side.