She let the conversation drop that night, but early the next morning Dulce caught him in the hallway and it was clear that she didn't think anything was settled. He says he thinks he has a cold, but the doctor told me he could get pneumonia real easy. When speaking, you would put an accent on the ‘not’. Probably not, but she was born and raised here - and her parents are buried here. unless; if not; except that (followed by a clause, often with that expressed): Nothing would do but that I should come in. "But IS there any other place?" An interrupter is a little word or phrase that interrupts a sentence to show emotion, tone, or emphasis. But then, no one mentioned a child, either. At ministerial level, it usually does, but among the rank and file, it often does not. Dichotomous Desirability: a gay man of colour’s dilemma, The Forgotten Pleasure of Interacting With Strangers, 4 Ways to Come Across More Nuanced in Your Social meetings. He had the background and the education, but he obviously didn't have the inclination to adjust to the one being forced on him. She stared up at his face, but he ignored her. It has been called the new "um" or "like," but linguist Geoff Nunberg says starting sentences with "so" isn't a new trend. He'd like to believe in good and the happy-ever-after, but that innocence could never be retrieved. Knowing how ‘but’ can used will also help you spot an insincere apology or contradictory statement quickly. Word Order of Questions with Do and Does The following is the word order to construct a basic question in English using Do or Does . Now we’re getting somewhere. It wasn't a question, but a flat statement. That should have been no big surprise, but Carmen would have thought he would welcome the idea of a willing heir. "I understand," he said gently, "but try to keep your chin up.". But this I know, I love to play In the meadow, among the hay-- Up the water, and o'er the lea, That's the way for Billy and me. I’m trying a new diet. When you use it most people listening to you will give more attention and more weight to what you say after you say BUT. But you're still not comfortable with the decision, are you? But all these hints at what happened, both from the French side and the Russian, are advanced only because they fit in with the event. I have let her do this, but now I tell her she must be respectful. You are allowed to start a sentence with 'however. I do not remember when I first realized that I was different from other people; but I knew it before my teacher came to me. There was another way, but after what had happened today, she was reluctant to bring it up. All that was true enough, but remaining bitter about it wasn't going to improve their relationship. The Mangaboo people listened, but showed no great interest. Of course, but most people prefer the carpet. Matthew had thick black hair, but Natalie's was blonde. Maybe a vacation would be good right now, but don't go back there. Who does the gun belong to? These cookies do not store any personal information. Dorothy thought he just wiggled one of his drooping ears, but that was all. Or never begins a sentence, paragraph, or chapter. Using the word ‘but’ in the middle of a sentence can negate everything that came before it. exclaimed Zeb. She opened her mouth to speak, but Giddon's gruff "Let's go" cut off any argument. Indeed either word can give unimprovably early warning of the sort of thing that is to follow.’ Kingsley Amis, The King’s English (1997) ‘Contrary to what your high school English teacher told you, there’s no reason not to begin a sentence with but or and ; in fact, these words often make a sentence … Nonsense, you're not putting us out, but you're more than welcome to use the phone... and please call me Sarah. You can sit up, but you have to stay in there. A sentence typically contains a subject (what the sentence is about) and a predicate (something about the subject). It was possible after all - but was it moral? Is it ever okay to start a sentence with the word but? but example sentences. I too had woven a kind of basket of a delicate texture, but I had not made it worth any one's while to buy them. But that’s another story. She glanced up at his face, but it gave no clue of his mood. The only bait he could find was a bright red blossom from a flower; but he knew fishes are easy to fool if anything bright attracts their attention, so he decided to try the blossom. It didn't need another rinse, but she needed the time to contemplate before saying something she might regret. Indeed either word can give unimprovably early warning of the sort of thing that is to follow." Examples of totally acceptable uses of the word ‘but’: Now let’s examine some not-so-great uses of the word ‘but’ with some common examples: Classic line! Directing Connie to the house would be difficult, but Lisa could wait at the end of the drive. The word BUT negates or cancels everything that goes before it. There were bears and mountain lions, but in all the years she had lived here, she had never known of anyone being attacked. He wrote to Arakcheev, the Emperor's confidant: It must be as my sovereign pleases, but I cannot work with the Minister (meaning Barclay). His brows lifted, but he still looked confused. Maybe she couldn't make the ugly beast go away completely, but she had learned to control it. Evaluate the contrasting force of the but in question, and see whether the needed word is really and; if and can be substituted, then but is almost certainly the wrong word. Claudiu Claudiu. I tried hard to teach her my sign language, but she was dull and inattentive. "But Jim knows his business all right--don't you, Jim?" The speaker is now being more clear. Sorensen had nothing to do but watch. asked the Wizard. "I have been so excited since father said you were coming!" But Mom got sick and died... and then Dad. You always liked living on the edge, but you've never been so impulsive. He was willing to admit he was wrong, but he wasn't going to grovel. Partly because of the way he worded things, but mostly because he tried to mask his emotions - like Alex. Lisa started to get up but Howard motioned her to sit still while he answered the door. Such a pleasant day and evening should have ended with a restful night and happy dreams, but it didn't. The sheetrock was up and mudded, but not painted. If you’ve already got years of practice avoiding starting your sentence with one of these words, then it might take some retraining to find yourself starting a sentence this way. Each party knows where they stand. Somehow, we’ve fallen into the habit of apologizing when apologies aren’t needed. I'm sure you feel guilty, but it's fortunate that you weren't with them. Of course she loved him, but somewhere inside she still cringed at that sinful word. All Rights Reserved. asked the kitten. Not that one had anything to do with the other, but the technology of surrogacy would have been inconceivable back then. I'll remember that one next time. But your father didn't kiss me, and Josh didn't... You didn't say a word to your father, but you snarled at me as though I did something wrong. Spencer was nearly ten years older than her, but maybe she liked older men. Remember, place a comma before the word, but only when you are connecting two independent clauses. But I felt it for you before we got married. A part of speech is a term used in traditional grammar for one of the nine main categories into which words are classified according to their functions in sentences, such as nouns or verbs.Also known as word classes, these are the building blocks of grammar. She is very noisy, but she’s also very smart. Childhood excursions had taught her that the country was rough, but was she up to ten miles of walking? She didn't look back, but his muffled curse chased after her. I don't want you to lose anything, but you know I'd want to be with you even if we didn't have a dime to our name. Beautiful he was, but he also looked high spirited. I'm learning English now, so I gave myself an English name — Vivi." Example sentences with the word do. In the first clause of this sentence, George indicates he doesn't want to bother the person he is speaking to. Her heart said no, but then there was logic. But, most often changing that one little word isn’t going to help much… especially if the actual structure / tone of the message is negative. For example, an interrupter might read something like: “but, of course, sometimes interviews need to be rescheduled.” The sentence “sometimes interviews needs to be rescheduled” is a full sentence on its own. We accept that they don't, but we still want to feel welcome. I can't remember the name of it, but I think I would have remembered North Street. But I'm sure they were on another street. He seemed sincere, but it could have been an act. This usage is rather archaic and rhetorical, however, and indicates a very non-colloquial stance. His fist was aimed at her stomach, but she managed to dodge and catch it on her rib cage. "But won't they be veg'table, like everything else here?" But why wouldn't he want her to see the barn, and why would he build it so far from the house? As an adverb: We can but hope that things will improve. Sweets usually made her thirstier - but it was wet. The best way to apologize is just to do it, and not follow it with anything. she said to Alex, but her eyes included Carmen. You fell asleep alright, but we didn't get that far. These cookies do not store any personal information. Thinking that turn and turn about is fair play, she seized the scissors and cut off one of my curls, and would have cut them all off but for my mother's timely interference. The prince answered nothing, but she looked at him significantly, awaiting a reply. do example sentences. It may be harsh, it’s unambiguous. Five years hadn't changed the wild hills of Madison County, but she had forgotten how truly remote the area was. But I like taking care of my children. What she’s trying to do here is soften the blow. But there were more important things to think about at the moment. Other times, this word is also categorized as a noun that refers to an argument against something. He's irritated, but he probably won't say anything. In doing so, he not only mistranslated the national motto e pluribus unum but also ignored the long history of American political divisions along racial and ethnic lines. He might not have heard what she said, but he must have heard her speak. share | improve this question | follow | edited Mar 2 '12 at 15:55. kiamlaluno. It's a little early, but twins tend to have their own schedule. These babies might not be in her womb, but they did belong to Alex. "Yes; but it's lots of fun, if it IS strange," remarked the small voice of the kitten, and Dorothy turned to find her pet walking in the air a foot or so away from the edge of the roof. Señor Medena was watching Alex, but from the corner of her eye Carmen could see Alex was looking out the window. He intended it as a joke, but the memory it resurrected was painful. The look she gave him revealed nothing but exasperation. Fayetteville is long distance, but I'll be glad to pay you for the call as soon as I get my things. It had been in all the local papers, but she wasn't sure she could talk about it without getting emotional. She had assumed Alex was, but... she needed to look at his files. They did not seem frightened, but chirped softly, as if they knew they were safe. It was intended to encourage her, but it was more a distraction. "Don't know," said Dorothy, "but it must have been humbug.". They saw a landscape with mountains and plains, lakes and rivers, very like those upon the earth's surface; but all the scene was splendidly colored by the variegated lights from the six suns. Today, I am here to set you free from one of the shibboleths of grammar. What to Know. What can she do to me? A few times she nodded off, but for the most part she was able to stay awake until Alex arrived the next morning with Katie. Does this cap belong to you? Like reciting poetry, speeches, or prayers. She opened her eyes... but it wasn't Nick holding her hand. I don't remember any other words that can have different function, but I think you got my point. Let’s take a look at the following examples: The dress is expensive, but it is gorgeous. Well, I haven't seen her, but... what does the doctor say? What did they do to him? "Yes; but we're used to such things in California," he replied. Tom pretended to not hear a thing. Seducing him was something she thought would be difficult, but it was actually enjoyable. She met his gaze defiantly for a moment longer, but he made no attempt to argue. He didn't look like a rich man, but then, what did a rich man look like? So I do, You do, S/he does, We do, They do. It wasn't enough, but it was all she felt capable of at the moment. "At a hotel in Huntsville, but I haven't rented a room yet," she blurted out, and then caught her breath. Definition and synonyms of but for from the online English dictionary from Macmillan Education.. : other than. But there is no need to say it now. but (conj): used when connecting two different things that are not in agreement Listen to all | All sentences (with pause) Anonymous. He warned us not to enter the room. But not a sound had broken the stillness since the strangers had arrived, except that of their own voices. They didn't know about the science of surrogacy back then - but then, they didn't know about cesarean delivery either. Now, instead of sounding passive-aggressive and unsure, she sounds like a adult who is aware of her emotions, and who is respecting the person she is breaking up with. Moreover is a transition word, and follows the rules of punctuation for transition words. Señor Medena's gaze was stern, but his voice was calm. But right or wrong, she isn't his daughter. I thought maybe we could get a van, but I didn't know if we could afford it. "I really don't have anything to do but pack," the words spilled out excitedly, "and call Connie so she'll know where I am.". She might have lost the baby anyway, but the way he treated her couldn't have helped. 0 0. Cognate with but, bot, bûten, buiten, buten. It is to solve some of the problems of life, not only theoretically, but practically. Sometimes she imagined a large field of marijuana, but that would have been discovered long ago. We do but condemn ourselves. Girl, no, you don’t love him. What it actually says is: “I’m saying sorry because it is socially required by me to do so but — deep down — I believe that I am correct and not in the wrong. “I used to love you, and now I don’t. Of course, there was always the possibility that she had come up with the idea of distracting Spenser, but he found that hard to believe. Last week we explored the sentence-initial so, and today we’ll be looking at ending sentences with so—a phenomenon called “the dangling so.” Despite its widespread usage, this construction seems to irk people even more than the sentence-initial so; there’s even a Facebook group called “I Hate People Who End Sentences with ‘so It looks like I'll have to accept your invitation to spend the night, but I'll pay you as soon as I get my things. Neither did she, but she wasn't claiming that they were hers, either. He released her hand, but his eyes still held hers in a hypnotic trance that made her think of Dracula. Carmen couldn't make out more than a few words, but one of them was mare. She had rehearsed her script earlier, but now the words evaded her. Most things had returned to normal, but the trip to Texas had given Jonathan an idea. Carmen rushed to him, but found that he was either asleep or passed out. It couldn't have been more than a few seconds, but it seemed much longer. Then you’ll realize that you either a) sound ridiculous or b) help you to re-evaluate the situation and craft a more truthful apology. How to know if the word functions as noun, adverb, preposition or adjective in the sentence. Maybe, but how else would you explain things like this? She should wash them, but there wasn't time. It’s an antique, but it’s selling for an extremely low price. The word “but” is an adverb that can also mean “nothing but” or “only.” Definition: a. no more than; only. Señor Medena's attention shifted back and forth between Dulce and Alex, but neither offered any explanation. For example: "I like you, but I never want to see you again." She was only a month into two years old, but she was big for her age. He said he felt bad about it, but conceded that Tessa had been less than honest with him on more than one occasion. She feared for her brother who was in it, was horrified by and amazed at the strange cruelty that impels men to kill one another, but she did not understand the significance of this war, which seemed to her like all previous wars. Do they always stay up so late? I guess I can't deny that, but in all these years, why hasn't Uncle Fabrice's name come up in a conversation at least once? I guess my life isn't very interesting to other people, but Alex and I like the way we live. That explains how you treated Katie, but what about Felipa and Alondra - and even Dulce? The carpenters tried to keep the dust level down, but it was impossible to avoid all of it. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com. What could he do about it but lose more sleep? However, an American told me that "Vivi" is not suitable for a name. Sarah and Giddon both seemed content with the arrangement, but she felt guilty about the money she earned... or didn't earn. "It isn't the first skunk I've seen around here," Carmen said, "but it's the first time I saw one acting like that. So I want to know if "Vivi" really can't be used as a name." But I guess if we have, it's no worse than having a child out of wedlock. Sentence Examples. A few impressions stand out vividly from the first years of my life; but "the shadows of the prison-house are on the rest.". The same point was made over a century ago by Harvard rhetorician Adams Sherman Hill: "Objection is sometimes taken to employment of but or and at the beginning of a sentence; but for this, there is much good usage" ( The Principles of Rhetoric , 1896). In no way do I see these practices enhancing a writer’s expression; some writers love to hide behind poor punctuation, calling it their style. But it took a good many years for them to grow as large and fine as they are now. Many incidents of those early years are fixed in my memory, isolated, but clear and distinct, making the sense of that silent, aimless, dayless life all the more intense. Maybe it was the emotional high they were feeling because of the babies, but something seemed to have shifted their foundation. Dorothy and Zeb jumped out of the buggy and ran after them, but the Sorcerer remained calmly in his throne. The auto charger was in the car, but she had a plug-in type at home. Learn about past, present, and perfect participles and how to use them in a sentence. Carmen rubbed her sore neck and searched the room for Alex again, but didn't find him. “Additionally” is just awful, and I flinch every time I start a sentence with it. Learn more. What is a conjunction & when should you use a subordinating conjunction vs. a coordinating conjunction? That car didn't look like much even when it was clean, but it was reliable. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. In the second clause, he does so by introducing himself. But we're married - and have been for a long time. For me, the word so at the beginning of a sentence is a conjunctive adverb like therefore. Do You Need a Comma After But? But you kept trying to take me from them. In fact, it was ludicrous - but it still hurt. Her cheeks burned, but she eyed him coolly. Dulce wasn't friendly, but she wasn't hostile either. Thanks, I know we can count on you, Katie, but I think she'll be more comfortable staying at our house. She could have asked, but that might tip her hand. Recognize that this apology means nothing, and that the person who said it isn’t primarily interested in apologizing. But I noticed some strawberries growing in one of the gardens, and some melons in another place. For example: in apologies, critique, and other nuanced personal communication. Because I am human, I can’t keep myself from vocalizing my opinions even though it is unnecessary in this case.”. A sentence beginning with either “and” or “but” affects me just as negatively as the omission of a comma that joins two sentences, both such common practices on the CNN website and others. Carmen stiffened and looked up at Alex, but he found something interesting outside to look at. You want me to think of all this as ours, but how can I when you insist that the problems are all yours? —Jacob Cloyd Tressler, English in Action, 1929. But when she asked Giddon to give Connie his phone number, he looked suspiciously from one of them to the other. They loved one child as much as the other, but one child could never take the place of another. Her presence was reassuring but she was driving extra miles to work every day. Sure, he'd had some rough times, but she had never done anything to make him think she would be unfaithful. She figured out that, when she didn’t minimize the ‘I love you’ with the ‘but,’ she wasn’t conveying the message she needed to. But is the word that turns a corner in a sentence. Does it hurt when you chew? He has no time to be anything but a machine. How to use if in a sentence. But it is a long time since I have had any sleep, and I'm tired. The nausea persisted for a while, but was eventually lost in sleep. Lisa hesitated, afraid of blundering further, but why did he need a sitter when his mother lived in the house? Despite his seniority in rank Bagration, in this contest of magnanimity, took his orders from Barclay, but, having submitted, agreed with him less than ever. But there were fourteen boys and girls older than he, and two little sisters who were younger. Example sentences with the word but. The better solution is to use positive, benefit driven language. Or don’t use any, and instead point out positive specifics and encourage finding another solution. Actually, I would have thought it was a lot more - but then, he did pay cash for the house and clinic. A couple of wing-backed chairs and sofa sank luxuriously into that thick wine carpet, but what caught her full attention was the wide curving staircase. But I think it's important that we're both aware of what's going on, don't you? Not the long deep sobs of earlier, but a cleansing cry. The Christmas tree could only be seen from the back of the house, but that didn't matter. It does not have any real meaning by itself, but rather it is used as a … He couldn't help but detect her wild pulse. But you haven't been working there all that long. "But I saw the little pigs with my own eyes!" But then, she hadn't approved of his drinking or the way he treated Lori either. Learn something new everyday. In the vegetable gardens they found the strawberries and melons, and several other unknown but delicious fruits, of which they ate heartily. History is full of radical breaks with the past that only seem to have come out of nowhere but were, in fact, predictable. He had loved a singer, but he had married the farmer's daughter. Both have advisory boards, individual donors and websites, but no rank-and-file members. But I am making a simple statement that life is better now than it has ever been. Etymology: From but, buten, boute, bouten, from butan, equivalent to. The words it sends signals about are always nouns. I'm sorry, but you weren't going to speak in your behalf. (I’m not referring to the word ‘butt’ here, ’cause butts are great.) Occasionally Howard would ask her questions, but mostly he and Connie handled the plans by themselves. Carmen glanced at him, but he was still deep in thought. Maybe... but something about him rang true – mostly the part that he had saved her life. : Paul had been edging since the first young guy started to fuck, and he wanted Paul to come inside his body that night. They help make each sentence sound in the reader’s head the way it sounds in yours. Does Tom like tomatoes? Non Necessary non-necessary. She counted the seconds in tense silence, waiting for the sound of an explosion, but the only sound was a car approaching from below. Carmen glanced at Alex, but he either didn't notice her attention, or he was avoiding her eyes. How to use do in a sentence. She felt the need to say it originally because some feelings still exist — because she used to love the person. Through it she heard the mumbling of the reverend, but not the words. When do I use “but rather”? He participated in conversation, but whenever it lagged, he watched her questioningly. When we speak or write, we … Alondra was still a big question mark, but her gut said no to that idea too. Depending on its type, a sentence consists of a main clause and sometimes one or more subordinate clauses. Alex and Jonathan wanted to help decorate, but there were some basic things that could be done. Her eyes were bloodshot but otherwise she looked pale lying on the sheets like a limp doll. I don't mean to make her feel unwelcome, but it was her own carelessness that got her into this situation. Alex had provided the money to remodel the home, but insisted that it stay in her name only. Maybe you are having a little water gain, but you look great. Makeup was something she rarely wore, but she did have some. 55.3k 64 64 gold badges 195 195 silver badges 312 312 bronze badges. I don't know what's been bothering you lately, but if I've done something, I wish you would tell me. It is true, I never assisted the sun materially in his rising, but, doubt not, it was of the last importance only to be present at it. When creating negative sentences, we usually use shortened forms: don’t, doesn’t and didn’t together with the base form of the verb. Take for example, the sentence below: There are no buts when it comes to regulations. But one question keeps popping up: “Does the comma go before or after but?” You wouldn’t think “but comma rules” would be a thing, but one rule doesn’t fit all … It was best to stay where she was, but she needed to let someone know she was here. Maybe they had, but what choice did they have? Well, I do need to freshen up, but I'll be back. negation. Perhaps when these clauses are equal in value, the statement doesn’t really convey what she wants to her loser boyfriend. Get the answers to all your conjunction questions. The same goes for but. "I know what you mean," she said," but wouldn't all this have come up eventually?". Better would be a long time coming, but she felt more in control of her emotions. I certainly was. “If you were wounded by my observation/words about , as , then I am sorry. But there was no shepherd in Scotland that could have done better than Sirrah did that night. This is fine, except when … / Accent Reduction / Accent Neutralization / Reductions / Linking / Improve Your American English Pronunciation / Improve Your Pronunciaton / Accent Training Audio Files / sound natural when I speak / accent modification / … I'll try not to get in the way, but everyone deserves a little time to themselves. Allen swallowed audibly, but Giddon shifted his focus to Lisa. If you desperately feel the need to use a ‘but,’ trying saying the apology with an “and” instead. I would have thought a gender oriented decision would upset you, but you seem to be on his side. I know, we've been all through this before - but I still don't understand. She tried to step around him, but he stopped her with an iron grip on her arm. If that's what you mean a sentence fragment is an incomplete sentence.Example: Running down the hill. Señor Medena said goodbye to them at the house, but Alondra and Felipa rode with them in the Limousine to the airport. She hesitated, wanting to find a way home, but not wanting to ask any more favors of him. His tone suggested impatience, but his expression gave no clue as to why. Señor Medena was watching Alex thoughtfully, but Alex seemed to be unaware of his attention. He was respectful of her concerns, but they didn't see eye-to-eye on any of it - except the fact that they both wanted another child. I can’t be with you anymore.”. I don't care what he does. Do is not used with the verbs be, can, might, ought, shall and will. He was right about the coat, but she wasn't about to go back and get it. Dulce handed Carmen a picture, her face a study of emotion, but her lips revealing nothing. Alex pointed his fork at her and opened his mouth to speak, but Carmen cut him off. True, but her answer left Carmen's stomach tied in a knot. As a preposition (followed by a noun): There’s been nothing but trouble since he came. (Entry 1 of 3) —used to introduce a statement that adds something to a previous statement and usually contrasts with it in some way. Destiny woke several times during the night, but went back to sleep when she saw Carmen was there. This is just one fine example of a fancy version of the ‘but’ apology. Maybe he thought she would change her mind, but it wasn't going to happen. He pushed forward, feeling stirred, but not yet sure what stirred him or what he would say. When it finally came back to her, the frown was still there, but his expression was cognitive.