24.1 Mais but je I dois must partir leave maintenant now
24.2 Il he court runs vite fast mais but il he n'est not-is jamais never fatigué tired
24.3 Le the but goal de of ce this projet project est is simple simple
24.4 Elle she aime loves le the chocolat chocolate mais but elle she préfère prefers la the vanille vanilla
24.5 Notre our but goal principal main reste remains la the réussite success
24.6 J' I ai have essayé tried mais but sans without succès success
24.7 Le the gardien goalkeeper a has arrêté stopped le the but goal
24.8 Ils they veulent want venir to-come mais but ils they ne not peuvent can pas not
24.9 Son his/her seul only but goal dans in la the vie life était was d' to aider help les the autres others
24.10 C'est it-is cher expensive mais but ça it vaut is-worth le the coup cost
24.11 Marquer to-score un a but goal devient becomes son his/her obsession obsession
24.12 Tu you es are jeune young mais but très very sage wise
24.13 Le the but purpose de of cette this réunion meeting n'est not-is pas not clair clear
24.14 Il he pleut rains mais but nous we sortons go-out quand when même same
24.15 Atteindre to-reach ses one's buts goals demande requires de of la the persévérance perseverance
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24.1 Mais je dois partir maintenant. But I must leave now.
24.2 Il court vite mais il n'est jamais fatigué. He runs fast but he's never tired.
24.3 Le but de ce projet est simple. The goal of this project is simple.
24.4 Elle aime le chocolat mais elle préfère la vanille. She likes chocolate but she prefers vanilla.
24.5 Notre but principal reste la réussite. Our main goal remains success.
24.6 J'ai essayé mais sans succès. I tried but without success.
24.7 Le gardien a arrêté le but. The goalkeeper stopped the goal.
24.8 Ils veulent venir mais ils ne peuvent pas. They want to come but they can't.
24.9 Son seul but dans la vie était d'aider les autres. His/her only goal in life was to help others.
24.10 C'est cher mais ça vaut le coup. It's expensive but it's worth it.
24.11 Marquer un but devient son obsession. Scoring a goal becomes his/her obsession.
24.12 Tu es jeune mais très sage. You are young but very wise.
24.13 Le but de cette réunion n'est pas clair. The purpose of this meeting is not clear.
24.14 Il pleut mais nous sortons quand même. It's raining but we're going out anyway.
24.15 Atteindre ses buts demande de la persévérance. Achieving one's goals requires perseverance.
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24.1 Mais je dois partir maintenant.
24.2 Il court vite mais il n'est jamais fatigué.
24.3 Le but de ce projet est simple.
24.4 Elle aime le chocolat mais elle préfère la vanille.
24.5 Notre but principal reste la réussite.
24.6 J'ai essayé mais sans succès.
24.7 Le gardien a arrêté le but.
24.8 Ils veulent venir mais ils ne peuvent pas.
24.9 Son seul but dans la vie était d'aider les autres.
24.10 C'est cher mais ça vaut le coup.
24.11 Marquer un but devient son obsession.
24.12 Tu es jeune mais très sage.
24.13 Le but de cette réunion n'est pas clair.
24.14 Il pleut mais nous sortons quand même.
24.15 Atteindre ses buts demande de la persévérance.
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French has two different words that English speakers might confuse: -
"Mais" (conjunction) = "but" -
Used to introduce contrast or opposition -
Always spelled with an "s" at the end -
Pronounced [mɛ] (like "meh") -
Example: J'aime le café mais je préfère le thé (I like coffee but I prefer tea) -
"But" (noun, masculine) = "goal/purpose/aim" -
Le but (the goal) - plural: les buts -
Pronounced [by] (like "boo" but shorter) -
Used in sports (scoring a goal) and figuratively (life goals) -
Common phrases: -
marquer un but = to score a goal -
le but de... = the purpose of... -
dans le but de = with the aim of
Key differences from English: -
English uses "but" only as a conjunction -
French distinguishes between the conjunction "mais" and the noun "but" -
"Goal" in English can mean both sports goals and life objectives - same in French with "but" -
Word order: "mais" typically starts a clause, while "but" follows articles and adjectives
Common mistakes to avoid: -
Don't confuse "mais" (but) with "mes" (my - plural) -
Remember "but" is masculine: le but, un but (not la but) -
"Mais" never changes form, while "but" can be plural (buts)
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Understanding "mais" and "but" in French culture reveals interesting aspects of French thinking and expression:
Argumentative style: French conversation often uses "mais" to introduce nuanced viewpoints. The French educational system emphasizes dialectical thinking (thesis-antithesis-synthesis), making "mais" essential for expressing complex ideas. You'll hear "Oui, mais..." (Yes, but...) frequently in discussions, showing the French preference for qualified agreement rather than absolute statements.
Sports culture: "But" in the sporting sense reflects France's passion for football (soccer). French commentators exclaim "BUT!" when a goal is scored, and the phrase "marquer un but" extends metaphorically into everyday life. French speakers often use sports metaphors involving "but" to discuss achieving objectives in business or personal life.
Goal-setting philosophy: The French approach to "buts" (goals) tends to be more philosophical than the American goal-oriented culture. French speakers might discuss "le but de la vie" (the purpose of life) in casual conversation. The expression "sans but" (aimlessly) carries negative connotations, suggesting the importance of purposeful living in French culture.
Linguistic courtesy: Using "mais" softly can show politeness. Instead of direct disagreement, French speakers often say "mais non" gently or "mais si" (but yes) to contradict a negative statement politely. This reflects the French value of diplomatic communication.
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From "Le Petit Prince" by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (1943):
"Tu deviens responsable pour toujours de ce que tu as apprivoisé. Tu es responsable de ta rose... - Mais elle est importante, ma rose, à moi! protesta le petit prince. - Bien sûr, dit le renard. Tu n'es encore pour moi qu'un petit garçon tout semblable à cent mille petits garçons. Et je n'ai pas besoin de toi. Mais si tu m'apprivoises, nous aurons besoin l'un de l'autre."
Mais but elle she est is importante important, ma my rose rose, à to moi me! protesta protested le the petit little prince prince. Bien well sûr sure, dit said le the renard fox. Mais but si if tu you m' me apprivoises tame, nous we aurons will-have besoin need l'un one de of l'autre the-other.
"But she is important, my rose, to me!" protested the little prince. "Of course," said the fox. "But if you tame me, we will need each other."
This passage showcases "mais" in two different emotional contexts. The first "mais" expresses the little prince's defensive protest about his rose's importance, showing how "mais" can introduce emotional emphasis. The second "mais" from the fox introduces a conditional proposition about mutual need through taming (apprivoisement), a central theme in the novel.
-
First "mais": Introduces an emotional objection, emphasizing importance -
"à moi": Emphatic construction meaning "to me" (more emphatic than just "ma rose") -
Second "mais si": Introduces a conditional clause (but if) -
"l'un de l'autre": Reciprocal expression meaning "each other" (literally: one of the other) -
Notice how both uses of "mais" create turning points in the dialogue
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24.16 L' the inspecteur inspector savait knew la the vérité truth mais but il he attendait waited le the bon right moment moment
24.17 Le the but goal du of-the criminel criminal restait remained mystérieux mysterious pour for tous all
24.18 Elle she avait had un an alibi alibi mais but quelque some chose thing clochait was-wrong
24.19 Dans in quel what but purpose avait had -il he volé stolen ces these documents documents secrets secret?
24.20 Le the témoin witness parlait spoke mais but ses his mains hands tremblaient trembled nerveusement nervously
24.21 Découvrir to-discover le the vrai true but motive du of-the meurtre murder prendrait would-take du some temps time
24.22 Il he semblait seemed innocent innocent mais but les the preuves evidence disaient said le the contraire contrary
24.23 Le the but goal de of l' the enquête investigation était was d' to établir establish la the chronologie timeline
24.24 La the porte door était was fermée closed mais but non not verrouillée locked
24.25 Quel what était was son his/her but aim en in mentant lying à to la the police police?
24.26 Elle she niait denied tout everything mais but son her regard gaze la her trahissait betrayed
24.27 Le the seul only but purpose du of-the détective detective était was la the justice justice
24.28 Les the indices clues étaient were minces thin mais but suffisants sufficient
24.29 Comprendre to-understand le the but motive du of-the suspect suspect résolvait solved l' the affaire case
24.30 Il he courait ran mais but trop too tard late
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24.16 L'inspecteur savait la vérité mais il attendait le bon moment. The inspector knew the truth but he was waiting for the right moment.
24.17 Le but du criminel restait mystérieux pour tous. The criminal's goal remained mysterious to everyone.
24.18 Elle avait un alibi mais quelque chose clochait. She had an alibi but something was wrong.
24.19 Dans quel but avait-il volé ces documents secrets? For what purpose had he stolen these secret documents?
24.20 Le témoin parlait mais ses mains tremblaient nerveusement. The witness spoke but his hands trembled nervously.
24.21 Découvrir le vrai but du meurtre prendrait du temps. Discovering the true motive for the murder would take time.
24.22 Il semblait innocent mais les preuves disaient le contraire. He seemed innocent but the evidence said otherwise.
24.23 Le but de l'enquête était d'établir la chronologie. The goal of the investigation was to establish the timeline.
24.24 La porte était fermée mais non verrouillée. The door was closed but not locked.
24.25 Quel était son but en mentant à la police? What was his/her aim in lying to the police?
24.26 Elle niait tout mais son regard la trahissait. She denied everything but her gaze betrayed her.
24.27 Le seul but du détective était la justice. The detective's only purpose was justice.
24.28 Les indices étaient minces mais suffisants. The clues were thin but sufficient.
24.29 Comprendre le but du suspect résolvait l'affaire. Understanding the suspect's motive solved the case.
24.30 Il courait mais trop tard. He ran but too late.
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24.16 L'inspecteur savait la vérité mais il attendait le bon moment.
24.17 Le but du criminel restait mystérieux pour tous.
24.18 Elle avait un alibi mais quelque chose clochait.
24.19 Dans quel but avait-il volé ces documents secrets?
24.20 Le témoin parlait mais ses mains tremblaient nerveusement.
24.21 Découvrir le vrai but du meurtre prendrait du temps.
24.22 Il semblait innocent mais les preuves disaient le contraire.
24.23 Le but de l'enquête était d'établir la chronologie.
24.24 La porte était fermée mais non verrouillée.
24.25 Quel était son but en mentant à la police?
24.26 Elle niait tout mais son regard la trahissait.
24.27 Le seul but du détective était la justice.
24.28 Les indices étaient minces mais suffisants.
24.29 Comprendre le but du suspect résolvait l'affaire.
24.30 Il courait mais trop tard.
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Detective story vocabulary using "mais" and "but": -
"Mais" in detective narratives: -
Creates suspense through contradiction: "innocent mais suspect" -
Reveals deception: "il souriait mais mentait" (he smiled but lied) -
Shows investigation progress: "difficile mais pas impossible" -
"But" (motive/goal) in crime context: -
"le but du crime" = the purpose of the crime -
"dans quel but?" = for what purpose? -
"son vrai but" = his/her true motive -
Common detective phrases: -
"mais alors..." = but then... -
"mais attendez!" = but wait! -
"le but caché" = the hidden motive -
"sans but apparent" = with no apparent motive -
Interrogative structures: -
"Dans quel but...?" = For what purpose...? -
"Quel était le but de...?" = What was the goal of...? -
Stylistic notes: -
French detective fiction often uses "mais" to create plot twists -
"But" as motive is central to French police procedurals -
Short sentences with "mais" increase tension
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