But 连词用法探讨(1)

But 作为连词在大多数情况下都用作并列连词，但有时在一些固定结构中也可用作从属连词。

一、用作并列连词

作为并列连词，but 可以连接两个并列的分句或者两个并列的成份，译为“但是”，“可是”。能表示下列意义：

1、表示意义转折。例如：

They are tired but happy.

I was going to write, but I lost your address.

Not one but two!

2、表示对比或对照，通常与否定词连用。例如：

He is not good at maths, but he is good at English.

He scarcely knows French, but he speaks English perfectly.

3、出现在句首或句与句之间，表示异议，惊奇或吃惊。如：

A:I have won the long jump.

B:But that's wonderful!

4、用在表示歉意的词语之后，引起一个句子，长不能译为“但是”，可以不译出。如：

I'm sorry, but I can't come.

Excuse me, but can you tell me the way to the library?

固定短语：1、not only … but (also) … 这是一组关联并列连词，表示其所连接的成份在意义上后一项对前一项的补充和引申，但侧重点在后一项上，意思是“不但……而且……”。但使用这一组关联并列连词必须注意两点：

(1)、当 not only … but also 连接两个并列成份作主语时，其谓语动词的形式按照就近原则来确定。

(2)、当 not only … but also 连接两个并列成份时采用部分倒装形式，即倒装 not only 分句，而 but also 分句则采用陈述句语序。如：

△ Not only the mother but also the children are sick.

△ Not only is he interested in the subject but also all his students are beginning to show interested in it.

有时，but 和 also 可以被分隔使用。如：

She was not only compelled to stay at home but she also forbidden to see her friends.

有时，but also 能被 but … as well 所取代。如：

He can not only speak English but French as well.

2、but then, 意思是“不过，另一方”，相当于 nevertheless, on the other hand”。如：She speaks English fluently, but then she did live in London for four years.3、not that … but that … 引导两个并的原因状语从句，that 相当于 because, 意思是“不是因为 …… 而是因为 ……”。如：

I haven't worked out the maths problem, not that I have no time for it, but that I can't work it out. 有时 not that … but that … 结构可单独出现。如：

Not that I won't go, but that I don't know which is the way to go.

二、用作从属连词。

But 在一些固定结构中作从属连词，引导状语从句和名词从句。

1、引导条件状语从句。

But that 可以用来引导条件状语从句，意思是“倘若，要不是”。《牛津现代高级英汉双解词典》和一些语法书上将此结构中的 but 看成介词，that 则引导了特殊的介词宾语从句，但是《牛津现代高级英汉双解词典》和章振帮先生所著《新编英语语法》等认为 but that 为复杂从属连词， but that 从句为条件状语从句，本人倾向于后一种看法。 That 从句一般不作介词补足成分，将 but that 理解为复杂从属连词，有助于确切理解从句 but that 的真正意义， but that 从句用陈述语气，而主句则常用虚拟语气，but that 从句可以同否定的 if 从句互换。