But

Pronunciation: /bʌt/

Definitions of but

conjunction a word used to introduce a phrase or clause contrasting with what has already been mentioned

Example Sentences

A1 I like pizza, but I don't like mushrooms.

A2 She wanted to go to the beach, but it was raining.

B1 I studied hard for the exam, but I still didn't pass.

B2 The movie was entertaining, but it had a predictable ending.

C1 He is a talented musician, but he lacks confidence.

C2 The restaurant had great ambiance, but the service was slow.

Examples of but in a Sentence

formal The experiment yielded promising results, but further research is needed to confirm the findings.

informal I really want to go to the concert, but I have to finish my homework first.

slang I was planning on going out tonight, but my parents are being total buzzkills.

figurative She wanted to trust him, but her heart kept reminding her of past betrayals.

Grammatical Forms of but

• past tense: butted
• plural: buts
• comparative: more but
• superlative: most but
• present tense: but
• future tense: will but
• perfect tense: have butted
• continuous tense: is butting
• singular: but
• positive degree: but
• infinitive: to butt
• gerund: butting
• participle: butted

Origin and Evolution of but

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Old English

Story behind the word: The word 'but' originated from Old English 'būtan', meaning 'outside, without'.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'but' evolved to also indicate contrast or exception in addition to its original meaning of 'except' or 'without'.