Native EnglishNatural Grammar

ButConjunctionPreposition

ConjunctionIndicates contrast or negation of

an idea.

Ex: It was sunny, but cold.She was tired, but not sleepy.

PrepositionMeaning except; indicating an

exception.Ex: There was no one there but

Alice.I will do anything but that.

Indicating an extenuating circumstance or exceptional reason.

Ex: But for the bus, we would have had to walk.

a) But for the homerun, we would have lost the game.

Grammar Patterns

ButConjunctionPreposition

ConjunctionIndicates contrast or negation of an

idea.

Ex: It was sunny, but cold.She was tired, but not sleepy.

PrepositionMeaning except; indicating an

exception.Ex: There was no one there but

Alice.I will do anything but that.

Indicating an extenuating circumstance or exceptional reason.

Ex: But for the bus, we would have had to walk.

a) But for the homerun, we would have lost the game.

Collocations

ButConjunctionPreposition

ConjunctionIndicates contrast or negation of an

idea.

Ex: It was sunny, but cold.She was tired, but not sleepy.

PrepositionMeaning except; indicating an

exception.Ex: There was no one there but

Alice.I will do anything but that.

Indicating an extenuating circumstance or exceptional reason.

Ex: But for the bus, we would have had to walk.

a) But for the homerun, we would have lost the game.

Set Phrases

ButConjunctionPreposition

ConjunctionIndicates contrast or negation of

an idea.

Ex: It was sunny, but cold.She was tired, but not sleepy.

PrepositionMeaning except; indicating an

exception.Ex: There was no one there but

Alice.I will do anything but that.

Indicating an extenuating circumstance or exceptional reason.

Ex: But for the bus, we would have had to walk.

a) But for the homerun, we would have lost the game.

Examples

ButConjunctionPreposition

ConjunctionIndicates contrast or negation of an

idea.

Ex: It was sunny, but cold.She was tired, but not sleepy.

PrepositionMeaning except; indicating an

exception.Ex: There was no one there but

Alice.I will do anything but that.

Indicating an extenuating circumstance or exceptional reason.

Ex: But for the bus, we would have had to walk.

a) But for the homerun, we would have lost the game.

Exercises (link to Quia)