but一词在英语中占有举足轻重的地位,在练习题或高考题中出现的频率较高。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。
（小周）