江苏省东台市第一中学 张锦堂 224200
but 通常用作连词或介词, 多次在高考试题中“露面”。笔者对此进行了归类，并对今后试题中but 的考查需要注意的地方提出自己的看法，诚望有益于读者。
but 的用法较多，但往年试题中主要围绕以下几个方面命题。
一、but 作并列连词用，表示转折关系。
（一）连接并列的主语、谓语、宾语、表语、定语等。
1. （MET'89完形填空）(划线选项为答案。下同。)
The dog seemed to enjoy his mushroom , and the officers then began to eat their meat, saying that the mushroom had a very strange (48) quite pleasant taste.
48. A. besides B. but C. and D. or
（二）连接并列分句。
2.（MET 89） ____ many times, but he still couldn't understand it.
A. Having been told B. Though he had been told
C. He was told D. Having told
3. (MET 93) --- I don't like chicken ___fish.
--- I don't like chicken, __ I like fish very much.
A. and; and B. and; but C. or; and D. or; but
4. (NMET 94) --- Would you like to come to dinner tonight?
--- I'd like to, ____ I'm too busy.
A. and B. so C. as D. but
5. (2000 春) The changes in the city will cost a lot, __ they will save us money in the long run.
A. or B. since C. for D. but
6. (北京2002) --- Would you like to come to the dinner on Saturday?
--- Thank you. I'd like to, _I'll be out of town at the weekend.
A. because B. and C. so D. but
(三) 用于“Excuse me, but ...”和“I' m sorry ,but...”句式中。
7. (NMET 98) --- I' d like to invite you to dinner this Saturday, Mr. Smith. --- ____.
A. Oh, no. Let's not B. I'm very sorry, but I have other plan
C. I'd rather stay at home D. Oh, no. That'll be too much trouble
8. (上海2000) --- I didn't know this was a one-way street. --- ____.
A. That's all right B. I don't believe you
C. How dare you say that D. Sorry, but there's no excuse
9. (NMET 2002) Excuse me for breaking in, ___ I have some news for you.
A. so B. and C. but D. yet
(四) 汉语中常说“虽然 …… 但是 …… ”，但英语中 (al)though与but不可同时使用。
10.(MET 79)Though it's raining, ___ are still working in the fields.
A. they B. but they C. and they D. so they
11.(MET 91) Although he was considered a great writer, ___ are not widely read.
A. his works B. but his works
C. however his works D. still his works
(五) not only…but (also) …(不仅……而且……)连接两个并列的成分
如连接两个并列的主语，谓语动词应与靠近它的主语保持一致；如连接两个句子且not only位于句首时，not only 引导的分句要用倒装语序。
12. （MET 89）Not only I but also Jane and Mary ____ tired of having one examination after another.
A. is B. are C. am D. be
13. (上海2000春) Not only ___ interested in football but ____ beginning to show an interest in it.
A. the teacher himself is; all his students are
B. the teacher himself is; are all his students
C. is the teacher himself ; are all his students
D. is the teacher himself; all his students are
二、but 作介词用，表示“除了…… 外”。
（一）多和anything, nothing, anybody, nobody, who, all, none等连用，后接名词或代词。如作主语，谓语动词根据but 前的不定代词确定单复数形式。
14. (MET 86) Nobody but Jane ____ the secret.
A. know B. knows C. have known D. is known
15. (MET 87) All but one ____ here just now.
A. is B. was C. has been D. were
(二) 与动词不定式连用。如but前有do及其变化形式（does, did, done, to do 等），but 后的不定式要省略不定式符号to。
16. (MET 93) We've missed the last bus . I'm afraid we have no ____ but to take a taxi.
A. way B. choice C. possibility D. selection
17. (上海2002) 汉译英： 当时，那位出租司机别无选择，只能求助于游客（choice）。
参考答案：At that time the taxi driver had no choice but to turn to the tourist / traveler (for help).
18. (上海2001春) Sandy could do nothing but ___ to his teacher that he was wrong.
A. admit B. admitted C. admitting D. to admit
以上几个方面是对历年高考试题中but考点的归类。根据对往年各种模拟试题的研究分析，笔者认为，but的下列用法也值得注意。
一、区别好anything but, nothing but 和 all but的不同含义。
anything but => never, nothing but => only, all but => almost。 例句：
He is anything but a scientist. 他决不是个科学家。
His English is nothing but correct. 他的英语只是不错而已。
He was all but killed. 他差一点儿被杀死。
二、not …but … 与 not that… but that… 不是…… 而是……
not …but … 连接句子的两个并列的成分。如连接两个并列的主语，谓语动词与邻近的主语保持一致；not that… but that…连接两个分句。
Not I but she is brave. 不是我而是她勇敢。
They will be judged not by the color of their skin but by their content of their character. 他们将不是以肤色而是以品格的优劣被评价。
Not that she forgot to do her homework, but that she was busy nursing sick classmate. 不是她忘了做作业，而是她忙着照顾一个生病的同学。
三、can but（只能）、cannot (help) but（不能不、不得不）、cannot choose but(只好) 之后接动词原形。
I can but wait. 我只能等。
One cannot but be struck by his enthusiasm.
人们不能不被他的热情所感动。
He is such a selfless man. You cannot help but respect him.
他是这样无私的人，你不由得不尊重他。
There’s no bus running. I cannot choose but walk.
没有公共汽车了，我们只好步行。
四、but for … 与 but that … （要不是……）
but for… 引出含蓄条件，所修饰的谓语动词用虚拟语气。
But for the traffic jam (= If there hadn't been the traffic jam), we would have arrived on time.
要不是交通堵塞，我们就会按时到了。
but that… 引出真实条件，主句的谓语动词用虚拟语气。
The little girl could have fallen into the river but that the man caught he
要不是那人把小女孩接住，她就掉到河里了。
- I think George doesn’t really care for TV plays.
- Right, ________ he still watches the program.
A. and B. but C. or D. so （2004 重庆）
There are many kinds of sports , ________ my favorite is swimming .
A．as B．then C．so D．but （2004 辽宁）
（小周）