← Ìrìn-àjò Èdè: Kíkọ́ Èdè Gẹ̀ẹ́sì fún àwọn Yorùbá
"But" is a conjunction of contrast: a small word that joins two ideas when the second is different from what the first leads us to expect. "I am tired but happy" means "I am tired (we expect sadness), and yet I am happy". In Yoruba it is ṣùgbọ́n, or àmọ́ in quick, everyday speech:
- I am tired, but I am happy. — Agara dá mi, ṣùgbọ́n inú mi dùn. - It is small, but it is strong. — Ó kéré, ṣùgbọ́n ó lágbára. - I want to come, but I cannot. — Mo fẹ́ wá, ṣùgbọ́n n kò lè wá.
The two languages work in the same way: the first idea, then "but" or ṣùgbọ́n, then the contrasting idea. A Yoruba speaker already knows this word. The differences are small, and they are worth learning:
- English can join two single words with "but": "small but strong", "tired but happy". Yoruba usually says the whole second part again: Ó kéré, ṣùgbọ́n ó lágbára. - English has the word "although" for the same idea, and it must never stand together with "but" in one sentence. - English "but" has a second meaning, "except", and Yoruba uses a different word for it.
English has more than one "but", and Yoruba has a different word for each:
- "but" the conjunction (this lesson): ṣùgbọ́n, àmọ́ — I like it, but it is expensive: Mo fẹ́ràn rẹ̀, ṣùgbọ́n ó wọ́n. - "but" meaning "except": àfi — Everyone came but Túndé: Gbogbo wọn wá àfi Túndé. - "not … but …": Yoruba puts ni after each name — It was not Túndé but Kẹ́mi: Kì í ṣe Túndé ni ó wá, Kẹ́mi ni.
What does "but" mean in Yoruba? As a conjunction it means ṣùgbọ́n or àmọ́. It does not mean "and" (àti); "and" adds, and "but" turns against.
Key Takeaways:
- "But" joins two ideas that pull against each other: "I am tired, but I am happy" = Agara dá mi, ṣùgbọ́n inú mi dùn. - Put a comma before "but" when a whole sentence follows it: "I want to go, but I cannot." No comma when only a word follows: "small but strong". - Use "but" or "although", never both: "Although he is rich, he is not happy" or "He is rich, but he is not happy". - "But" can also mean "except": "everyone but Túndé" = gbogbo wọn àfi Túndé. After this "but", use "him", "her", "me": "everyone but him". - To be polite, English softens a refusal or a disagreement with "but": "I am sorry, but I cannot come." "Yes, but how much is it?"
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but — strong form /bʌt/ (stressed, or alone: "No buts!"); weak form /bət/ in fast speech ("small but strong" /ˈsmɔːl bət ˈstrɒŋ/)
The /b/ is the same as Yoruba b in bàbá and bí.
The vowel /ʌ/ is not a Yoruba sound. It is short and open, with unrounded lips, between Yoruba a and ọ. It is not ọ: say /bʌt/, not "bọt". Many Nigerian speakers say /bɔt/; this is understood in Nigeria, but the international sound is /ʌ/. The weak vowel /ə/ is quick and neutral.
Three words sound alike to a learner and are different:
- but /bʌt/ — the conjunction: I am tired but happy. - bat /bæt/ — the animal, or the cricket bat. The vowel is open, near Yoruba ẹ and a. - bought /bɔːt/ — the past of "buy": I bought a car. The vowel is long and rounded, like a long Yoruba ọ.
The final t is often not released in fast speech: "but I" /bət aɪ/. Do not add a vowel after it: not "buta".
English has no tones. "But" has no high, mid or low tone; in the conjunction use it is short and quiet.
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23.1 I am tired agara dá mi but ṣùgbọ́n happy inú mi dùn
23.2 It ó is small kéré but ṣùgbọ́n strong ó lágbára
23.3 The soup ọbẹ̀ náà is hot gbóná but ṣùgbọ́n tasty ó dùn
23.4 She ó called pè me mí but ṣùgbọ́n I n did not kò answer dáhùn
23.5 Come wá but ṣùgbọ́n do not má run sáré
23.6 We a tried hard gbìyànjú gidigidi but ṣùgbọ́n we a failed kùnà
23.7 The bus bọ́ọ̀sì náà is here wà níbí but ṣùgbọ́n it ó is full kún
23.8 Mum Màmá cooked se rice ìrẹsì but ṣùgbọ́n Dad Bàbá wanted fẹ́ yams iṣu
23.9 I mo like fẹ́ràn the car mọ́tò náà but ṣùgbọ́n it ó is expensive wọ́n
23.10 He ó studied kàwé a lot púpọ̀ but ṣùgbọ́n he ó did not kò pass yege the exam nínú ìdánwò náà
23.11 I mo wanted fẹ́ to call pè you ọ́ but ṣùgbọ́n my phone fóònù mi was not working kò ṣiṣẹ́
23.12 It rained òjò rọ̀ all day láti àárọ̀ dé ìrọ̀lẹ́ but ṣùgbọ́n we a still ṣì went lọ to sí the market ọjà
23.13 Some people àwọn kan say sọ that pé it ó is difficult le but ṣùgbọ́n I mo think rò that pé it ó is enjoyable dùn mọ́ni
23.14 He ó does not have kò ní much money owó púpọ̀ but ṣùgbọ́n he ó helps ń ran the poor àwọn tálákà lọ́wọ́
23.15 I am sorry má bínú but ṣùgbọ́n I n cannot kò lè come wá to sí your party ibi àríyá rẹ
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23.1 I am tired but happy. Agara dá mi, ṣùgbọ́n inú mi dùn.
23.2 It is small but strong. Ó kéré, ṣùgbọ́n ó lágbára.
23.3 The soup is hot but tasty. Ọbẹ̀ náà gbóná, ṣùgbọ́n ó dùn.
23.4 She called me, but I did not answer. Ó pè mí, ṣùgbọ́n n kò dáhùn.
23.5 Come, but do not run. Wá, ṣùgbọ́n má sáré.
23.6 We tried hard, but we failed. A gbìyànjú gidigidi, ṣùgbọ́n a kùnà.
23.7 The bus is here, but it is full. Bọ́ọ̀sì náà wà níbí, ṣùgbọ́n ó kún.
23.8 Mum cooked rice, but Dad wanted yams. Màmá se ìrẹsì, ṣùgbọ́n Bàbá fẹ́ iṣu.
23.9 I like the car, but it is expensive. Mo fẹ́ràn mọ́tò náà, ṣùgbọ́n ó wọ́n.
23.10 He studied a lot, but he did not pass the exam. Ó kàwé púpọ̀, ṣùgbọ́n kò yege nínú ìdánwò náà.
23.11 I wanted to call you, but my phone was not working. Mo fẹ́ pè ọ́, ṣùgbọ́n fóònù mi kò ṣiṣẹ́.
23.12 It rained all day, but we still went to the market. Òjò rọ̀ láti àárọ̀ dé ìrọ̀lẹ́, ṣùgbọ́n a ṣì lọ sí ọjà.
23.13 Some people say that it is difficult, but I think that it is enjoyable. Àwọn kan sọ pé ó le, ṣùgbọ́n mo rò pé ó dùn mọ́ni.
23.14 He does not have much money, but he helps the poor. Kò ní owó púpọ̀, ṣùgbọ́n ó ń ran àwọn tálákà lọ́wọ́.
23.15 I am sorry, but I cannot come to your party. Má bínú, ṣùgbọ́n n kò lè wá sí ibi àríyá rẹ.
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23.1 I am tired but happy.
23.2 It is small but strong.
23.3 The soup is hot but tasty.
23.4 She called me, but I did not answer.
23.5 Come, but do not run.
23.6 We tried hard, but we failed.
23.7 The bus is here, but it is full.
23.8 Mum cooked rice, but Dad wanted yams.
23.9 I like the car, but it is expensive.
23.10 He studied a lot, but he did not pass the exam.
23.11 I wanted to call you, but my phone was not working.
23.12 It rained all day, but we still went to the market.
23.13 Some people say that it is difficult, but I think that it is enjoyable.
23.14 He does not have much money, but he helps the poor.
23.15 I am sorry, but I cannot come to your party.
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These are the grammar rules for "but" in English:
1. "But" stands between the two ideas. The first idea comes first, then "but", then the idea that goes against it: "It is small but strong" (23.2), "The bus is here, but it is full" (23.7), "I like the car, but it is expensive" (23.9). Yoruba does the same with ṣùgbọ́n: Bọ́ọ̀sì náà wà níbí, ṣùgbọ́n ó kún. "But" never stands at the end of a sentence. It may open the second of two sentences (rule 8).
2. The comma. When "but" joins two whole sentences, each with its own subject and verb, put a comma before it: "She called me, but I did not answer" (23.4), "We tried hard, but we failed" (23.6). When "but" joins only two words or two short phrases, there is no comma: "small but strong" (23.2), "tired but happy" (23.1). Yoruba usually writes a comma before ṣùgbọ́n in both cases. The comma goes before "but", never after it.
3. English can shorten; Yoruba repeats. After "but" English may drop what is the same in both parts: "It is small but strong" (not "It is small but it is strong", though that is also correct). Yoruba repeats the subject and the verb: Ó kéré, ṣùgbọ́n ó lágbára. When the subject is the same, English may also drop it after "but": "He studied a lot but did not pass" is as correct as 23.10, which keeps "he". When the subject is different, it must stay: "Mum cooked rice, but Dad wanted yams" (23.8).
4. "But" and "although" are two ways to say one thing. Use one:
- He is rich, but he is not happy. - Although he is rich, he is not happy.
"Although" (or "though") goes at the front of the first idea and then needs no "but". Never "Although he is rich, but he is not happy". The same for "even though", "in spite of". A Yoruba speaker is tempted to put a contrast word in both places; English allows only one.
5. "But" can follow a negative. "She did not come, but she sent a message." "He does not have much money, but he helps the poor" (23.14). Notice that the second part may say the opposite: negative then positive, or the reverse.
6. "Not … but …". To correct a wrong idea, English puts "not" in the first part and "but" in the second: "It was not Túndé but Kẹ́mi who came." Yoruba uses ni twice: Kì í ṣe Túndé ni ó wá, Kẹ́mi ni. A longer pattern is "not only … but also …": "Not only Kẹ́mi but also Túndé came" — Kì í ṣe Kẹ́mi nìkan ni ó wá, ṣùgbọ́n Túndé pẹ̀lú.
7. "But" meaning "except". Here "but" is like a preposition and the pronoun after it is the object form: "Everyone came but him." Yoruba àfi: Gbogbo wọn wá àfi Túndé. The common phrases are "everyone but", "nobody but", "nothing but" (= only), "all but". In careful speech say "but me", "but him", "but us"; "everyone but he" is old-fashioned.
8. "But" at the start of a sentence. Modern English accepts it: "But it was too late." In speech it is normal; in formal essays many teachers prefer "However," with a comma after it. Yoruba: Ṣùgbọ́n, or àmọ́ in speech. Never together: not "But however".
9. "But" to be polite. English often uses "but" to soften a refusal, a disagreement or a question: "I am sorry, but I cannot come" (23.15), "Excuse me, but is this seat free?", "Yes, but how much is it?" Yoruba: Má bínú, ṣùgbọ́n… The phrase before "but" is the polite part; the real message comes after it.
10. Other words of contrast. "But" is the plainest. The others are:
- yet — like "but", more literary: She is poor yet generous. - however — a sentence adverb; a comma goes before and after it in the middle of a sentence: It rained. We went, however. - still — He lost. Still, he is smiling. (síbẹ̀) - though — at the end: It is small. It is strong, though.
Common Mistakes:
- "Although he is rich, but he is not happy." Correct: Although he is rich, he is not happy. (or) He is rich, but he is not happy. - "I want to go but, I cannot." Correct: I want to go, but I cannot. The comma comes before "but". - "But however she came." Correct: However, she came. (or) But she came. - "I am tired bat happy." Correct: I am tired but happy. "Bat" /bæt/ is the animal. - "Everyone came but he." Correct in everyday English: Everyone came but him. - "Is small but strong." Correct: It is small but strong. The subject must be said in English (see Lesson 21). - "Bọt" /bɔt/ for "but" in careful speech. International pronunciation: /bʌt/, with unrounded lips.
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"But" is among the twenty-five most frequent words of English; in the 1000-word list of this course it stands at number 23. It comes just after "that" (22). Every argument, every complaint and every polite refusal uses it.
Writing and speech. Yoruba writes ṣùgbọ́n, and in conversation people also say àmọ́. Wiktionary lists both as "but". English has one word for both: "but" is used in the street and in the Bible alike.
Contrast without a word. Yoruba proverbs often set two things side by side with no word between them at all. Take this one: Bí ọmọdé bá ṣubú, a wo iwájú; bí àgbà bá ṣubú, a wo ẹ̀hìn. "When a child falls, he looks ahead; when an elder falls, he looks behind." Yoruba puts the two halves together and lets the hearer feel the contrast. English prefers a joining word, and "but" or "while" is the natural choice: "A child who falls looks ahead, but an elder who falls looks behind." The meaning is that the elder, who has lived long, draws on experience; the child has none to look back on. When you turn a Yoruba saying into English, ask whether it needs a "but".
Politeness. In Yoruba and in English a direct "no" can sound hard. The speaker puts a soft phrase first and "but" after it: Má bínú, ṣùgbọ́n… / "I am sorry, but…", "I understand, but…", "With respect, but…". The listener knows that the real answer follows the "but". For the same reason, the phrase "Yes, but…" means "I do not fully agree".
Nigerian English. "But" is used as in British and American English. The vowel is often said /ɔ/ (/bɔt/); for the international sound practise /bʌt/, and compare "but", "bat" and "bought".
Common expressions with "but":
- Yes, but… — Bẹ́ẹ̀ ni, ṣùgbọ́n… - Sorry, but… — Má bínú, ṣùgbọ́n… - Everyone but… — Gbogbo wọn àfi… - Nothing but the truth. — only the truth; Yoruba says òtítọ́ nìkan. - Last but not least. — said of the final person or item in a list, to show that it is just as important as the others.
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Romans 6:23. English: King James Version (1611). Yoruba: Bíbélì Mímọ́ ní Èdè Yorùbá Òde-Òní (BMYO), Róòmù 6:23.
"For nítorí the wages èrè of sin ẹ̀ṣẹ̀ is ni death ikú but ṣùgbọ́n the gift ẹ̀bùn of God Ọlọ́run is ni eternal life ìyè àìnípẹ̀kun through nínú Jesus Christ Kristi Jesu our Lord Olúwa wa" - Romans 6:23 (KJV)
"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." "Nítorí ikú ni èrè ẹ̀ṣẹ̀, ṣùgbọ́n ẹ̀bùn Ọlọ́run ni ìyè àìnípẹ̀kun nínú Kristi Jesu Olúwa wa." (Róòmù 6:23, BMYO)
This verse is one of the best-known sentences in English, and its whole shape rests on "but". Before the "but" stands one thing: sin and what it earns, which is death. After the "but" stands its opposite: God and what he gives, which is life. The two halves are built alike: "the wages of sin is death" and "the gift of God is eternal life". The sameness of the building makes the contrast clear. "Wages" is something earned and owed; "gift" is something given freely; this is the real turn of the verse, and "but" marks the place where it happens. The Yoruba follows the same plan and uses ṣùgbọ́n at the same place. It also keeps the two halves alike, and it puts the key noun first each time with ni: ikú ni èrè ẹ̀ṣẹ̀, ẹ̀bùn Ọlọ́run ni ìyè àìnípẹ̀kun. As in Lesson 21 (Ọ̀rẹ́ ni wá) and Lesson 22 (ìmọ́lẹ̀ ni Ọlọ́run), the Yoruba puts the predicate noun first; English keeps the subject first, "the wages of sin is death". The semicolon in the English shows how strong the pause is; a modern writer would also accept a comma before "but".
- "But the gift of God": "but" joins two whole sentences, so the comma or semicolon stands before it, as in 23.4 and 23.6. Yoruba: ṣùgbọ́n. - "The wages of sin is death": in 1611 "wages" took a singular verb ("is"). Today many writers say "the wages of sin are death", but the old form is kept in this well-known verse. - "Eternal life": "eternal" is the usual word for ìyè àìnípẹ̀kun, "life without an end". Some versions of the English Bible say "everlasting". - "Through Jesus Christ our Lord": "through" is a preposition here, and Yoruba has nínú, "in". The two languages do not cut the idea in the same place. - "For" at the start is old English for "because" (nítorí). Modern English would write "Because".
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23.16 Kẹ́mi Kẹ́mi Túndé Túndé this cloth aṣọ yìí is beautiful lẹ́wà but ṣùgbọ́n it ó is too expensive wọ́n jù
23.17 Túndé Túndé Yes bẹ́ẹ̀ ni but ṣùgbọ́n how much èló is it ni
23.18 Kẹ́mi Kẹ́mi Five thousand ẹgbẹ̀rún márùn-ún naira náírà but ṣùgbọ́n the seller olùtà náà says sọ that pé he òun can lè reduce dín the price owó rẹ̀ kù
23.19 Túndé Túndé Let us jẹ́ ká ask bi him í but ṣùgbọ́n do not má shout pariwo
23.20 Kẹ́mi Kẹ́mi I èmi do not kì í shout pariwo but ṣùgbọ́n you ìwọ ni do o máa ń pariwo
23.21 Túndé Túndé Maybe ó lè rí bẹ́ẹ̀ but ṣùgbọ́n today lónìí I n will ó be quiet dákẹ́
23.22 Seller Olùtà It is good cloth aṣọ dáradára ni but ṣùgbọ́n it cost me a lot of money owó púpọ̀ ni mo fi rà á
23.23 Kẹ́mi Kẹ́mi I understand ó yé mi but ṣùgbọ́n we a do not have kò ní much púpọ̀ money owó
23.24 Seller Olùtà I mo can lè take gba four thousand ẹgbẹ̀rún mẹ́rin but ṣùgbọ́n only nìkan today lónìí
23.25 Túndé Túndé That is good ó dára but ṣùgbọ́n can you ṣé o lè wrap it dì í for us fún wa
23.26 Seller Olùtà Yes bẹ́ẹ̀ ni but ṣùgbọ́n you ẹ must gbọ́dọ̀ pay sanwó first ná
23.27 Kẹ́mi Kẹ́mi Here èyí is ni the money owó náà but ṣùgbọ́n please jọ̀wọ́ count kà it á
23.28 Seller Olùtà It is correct ó tọ́ You are young ẹ kéré lọ́jọ́ orí but ṣùgbọ́n wise ẹ gbọ́n
23.29 Túndé Túndé Thank you ẹ ṣé The bag àpò náà is heavy wúwo but ṣùgbọ́n I mo can lè carry gbé it e
23.30 Kẹ́mi Kẹ́mi Grandma Ìyá àgbà will not kò ní say sọ̀rọ̀ much púpọ̀ but ṣùgbọ́n she will be happy inú rẹ̀ yóò dùn
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23.16 Kẹ́mi: Túndé, this cloth is beautiful, but it is too expensive. Kẹ́mi: Túndé, aṣọ yìí lẹ́wà, ṣùgbọ́n ó wọ́n jù.
23.17 Túndé: Yes, but how much is it? Túndé: Bẹ́ẹ̀ ni, ṣùgbọ́n èló ni?
23.18 Kẹ́mi: Five thousand naira, but the seller says that he can reduce the price. Kẹ́mi: Ẹgbẹ̀rún márùn-ún náírà, ṣùgbọ́n olùtà náà sọ pé òun lè dín owó rẹ̀ kù.
23.19 Túndé: Let us ask him, but do not shout. Túndé: Jẹ́ ká bi í, ṣùgbọ́n má pariwo.
23.20 Kẹ́mi: I do not shout, but you do! Kẹ́mi: Èmi kì í pariwo, ṣùgbọ́n ìwọ ni o máa ń pariwo!
23.21 Túndé: Maybe, but today I will be quiet. Túndé: Ó lè rí bẹ́ẹ̀, ṣùgbọ́n lónìí n ó dákẹ́.
23.22 Seller: It is good cloth, but it cost me a lot of money. Olùtà: Aṣọ dáradára ni, ṣùgbọ́n owó púpọ̀ ni mo fi rà á.
23.23 Kẹ́mi: I understand, but we do not have much money. Kẹ́mi: Ó yé mi, ṣùgbọ́n a kò ní owó púpọ̀.
23.24 Seller: I can take four thousand, but only today. Olùtà: Mo lè gba ẹgbẹ̀rún mẹ́rin, ṣùgbọ́n lónìí nìkan ni.
23.25 Túndé: That is good, but can you wrap it for us? Túndé: Ó dára, ṣùgbọ́n ṣé o lè dì í fún wa?
23.26 Seller: Yes, but you must pay first. Olùtà: Bẹ́ẹ̀ ni, ṣùgbọ́n ẹ gbọ́dọ̀ sanwó ná.
23.27 Kẹ́mi: Here is the money, but please count it. Kẹ́mi: Èyí ni owó náà, ṣùgbọ́n jọ̀wọ́, kà á.
23.28 Seller: It is correct. You are young but wise. Olùtà: Ó tọ́. Ẹ kéré lọ́jọ́ orí, ṣùgbọ́n ẹ gbọ́n.
23.29 Túndé: Thank you. The bag is heavy, but I can carry it. Túndé: Ẹ ṣé. Àpò náà wúwo, ṣùgbọ́n mo lè gbé e.
23.30 Kẹ́mi: Grandma will not say much, but she will be happy. Kẹ́mi: Ìyá àgbà kò ní sọ̀rọ̀ púpọ̀, ṣùgbọ́n inú rẹ̀ yóò dùn.
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23.16 Kẹ́mi: Túndé, this cloth is beautiful, but it is too expensive.
23.17 Túndé: Yes, but how much is it?
23.18 Kẹ́mi: Five thousand naira, but the seller says that he can reduce the price.
23.19 Túndé: Let us ask him, but do not shout.
23.20 Kẹ́mi: I do not shout, but you do!
23.21 Túndé: Maybe, but today I will be quiet.
23.22 Seller: It is good cloth, but it cost me a lot of money.
23.23 Kẹ́mi: I understand, but we do not have much money.
23.24 Seller: I can take four thousand, but only today.
23.25 Túndé: That is good, but can you wrap it for us?
23.26 Seller: Yes, but you must pay first.
23.27 Kẹ́mi: Here is the money, but please count it.
23.28 Seller: It is correct. You are young but wise.
23.29 Túndé: Thank you. The bag is heavy, but I can carry it.
23.30 Kẹ́mi: Grandma will not say much, but she will be happy.
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Kẹ́mi and Túndé are in the market, choosing a cloth for their grandmother, and they bargain with a seller. The bargain is a good place for "but": every line weighs one thing against another (the price against the wish, the wish against the money).
"But" after "yes". In 23.17 and 23.26 the speaker says "Yes, but…". This is a polite English way to agree with part of what was said and to add a difficulty. Yoruba: Bẹ́ẹ̀ ni, ṣùgbọ́n… The comma marks a small pause.
"Too expensive" (23.16). "Too" means "more than is good": "too expensive" = the price is a problem. "Very expensive" only says that the price is high. Yoruba puts jù after the adjective: ó wọ́n jù. English puts "too" before it: "too expensive", "too heavy", "too small".
"Do" for a repeated verb (23.20). "I do not shout, but you do!" The word "do" at the end stands for "shout", so that English need not say it twice. Yoruba repeats the whole structure: ìwọ ni o máa ń pariwo. The same happens with other helping verbs: "I cannot swim, but he can"; "She has not come, but they have"; "I was not there, but you were".
Commands on both sides of "but". In 23.19 the second part is a command: "Let us ask him, but do not shout." A command has no subject in English. In 23.5 of Section A it is the same: "Come, but do not run." Yoruba: Jẹ́ ká bi í, ṣùgbọ́n má pariwo.
"Only" with "but" (23.24). "But only today" puts "only" before the time it limits. Yoruba puts nìkan after it: lónìí nìkan ni. Numbers and money (23.18, 23.24). "Five thousand naira" and "four thousand": the number word "thousand" does not take -s when a number stands before it: not "five thousands". "Naira" has the same form in the plural: "one naira, five thousand naira".
"Says that…" (23.18). The seller is reported with "says that he can reduce the price", as in Lesson 22. The tense stays in the present because the seller is speaking now.
The order "wrap it for us" (23.25). When the object is a pronoun, "it" goes between the verb and "for us": "wrap it for us", not "wrap for us it". In Yoruba the pronoun comes directly after the verb: dì í fún wa.
"Young but wise" (23.28). Two adjectives joined by "but" need no repeated verb: "You are young but wise." There is no comma, as in 23.1 and 23.2.
The last line (23.30). "Grandma will not say much, but she will be happy." The future "will" appears in both parts. In speech people say "won't" and "she'll". "Not much" is used with things you cannot count (talk, money, rice): "not much money", and with things you count it is "not many": "not many cloths".
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- Weak and strong: "It is small but strong" /ɪt ɪz ˈsmɔːl bət ˈstrɒŋ/ — "but" is weak /bət/. "No buts about it!" /ˈnəʊ ˈbʌts/ — the strong form /bʌt/ is used when the word is the topic. - The short vowel of "but" /ʌ/ is also in "cut", "cup", "bus", "sun", "love", "come": say them with the lips relaxed, not rounded. - /bʌt/, /bæt/, /bɔːt/ and /bəʊt/ are four words: but, bat, bought, boat. Practise them in a row. - Spelling: but, with one t. "Butt" (a thing you hit or push) is another word. Never "bot" or "bat" for the conjunction. - The comma stands before "but", not after: "I want to go, but I cannot." After "however" the comma comes after it: "However, I cannot." - No comma between two single words or phrases joined by "but": "small but strong". - "But" is written with a small b except at the start of a sentence. - Contractions after "but" are very common in speech and informal writing: "but I can't", "but he didn't", "but it's expensive". In formal writing use the full forms: "but I cannot", "but he did not", "but it is expensive".
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Course Index: [latinum.substack.com/p/index](https://latinum.substack.com/p/index)