用法A ：表示轉折

but表示轉折，意為“但是”“可是”。如：

You haven’t been there, but we both have. 你們沒去過那兒，但我們倆去過。

He talked loudly, but no one paid him any attention. 他大聲說話，但沒人聽他。

按英語習慣，表示轉折的but不能與表示讓步的though或although套用，如：

她雖然收到了他的禮物，但他沒有接受。

誤：Although she received his present, but she didn’t accept it.

正：She received his present, but she didn’t accept it.

正：Although she received his present, she didn’t accept it.

用法B ：用於固定搭配

1. 用於not…but結構

not…but…的意思是“不是……而是……”，用於否定兩個中的一個，而肯定其中的另一個。如：

What I want is not this one, but that one. 我想要的不是這個，而是那個。

Travel to the moon is not a dream but an actual happening. 登月旅行已不是夢想而是現實事情了。

2. 用於not only…but also結構

not only…but also…的意思是“不但……而且……”，主要用於連線兩個對等的成分；若連線兩個成分作主語，其後謂語動詞與靠近的主語保持一致。如：

She likes not only music but also sport. 她不但喜歡音樂而且喜歡運動。

We go there not only in winter, but also in summer. 我們不僅冬天去那兒，而且夏天也去。

Not only the students but also their teacher is enjoying the film. 不僅學生們在欣賞這部影片，他們的老師也在欣賞這部影片。

用法C： 表示委婉語氣

用於 excuse me, I’m sorry等表示道歉或客氣的表達後表示語氣委婉，注意此時不宜換成連詞and。如：

Excuse me, but you are wrong. 很抱歉，你錯了。

Pardon me, but this is my coat. 對不起，這是我的外套。

I’m sorry, but I wasn’t told when to leave. 對不起，沒人告知我什麼時候走。

but是並列連詞，用在兩個句子之間錶轉折關係，如He work s hard but he has never been praised.也可以連線兩個相同成分但意義相反的結構，如He is tired but excited.

作為節哀，意思是除了，等於except

All the students went to the park but Tom