What kind of word is BUT

On many occasions we can ask ourselves questions about what type of word is the one we have before us. Some generate a multitude of doubts and in this lesson from a TEACHER we are going to solve one of them:What kind of word is BUT? In this way you will be able to better perform your syntactic analysis and you will learn to use it correctly when you face a text.

But is an adversative conjunction that acts as a nexus and links different sentences, statements or words. First of all, in order to know correctly in which cases it is used and what its peculiarities are, we must define what conjunctions are.

What are conjunctions

The conjunctions are used when we want join different parts of the same sentence or make a link between different sentences. They are also known as grammatical links. Conjunctions are invariable words, that is, they do not have gender or number, making their meaning only grammatical. Within the conjunctions we can find two types:

• Coordinators: This type of conjunctions are the ones used when we want
  instagram story viewer
  join two words, sentences or phrases that are at the same syntactic level. That is to say, the two parts that we will join have the same importance and the variation of order of them will not alter their meaning. Within them we can find: Adversative, Copulative, Distributive, Disjunctive and Explanatory.
• Subordinates: Subordinate conjunctions are those that are used when we want to join different sentences or propositions that do not have the same syntactic level. These cannot be exchanged with each other and always one of them will be more important than the other. Here they are found: Causal, Comparative, Complementary, Concessive, Conditional, Consecutive, Place, Mode, Final and Temporary.

Now that we have defined the conjunctions and the types that exist we can indicate that but it is within the adversative conjunctions. That is, it is a coordinating conjunction and therefore it will be used in premises with the same importance. Specifically, but it is used when we want to express a contrast between two statements, propositions or sentences.

In other words, but it will oppose one concept to another in a way that qualifies, confront or expand. To understand it better, we can see some examples in the following sentences:

• I'm not going to his birthday but I would like it very much.
• I understand that you are angry, but you must not behave that way.
• The teacher explained the task to the students, but they paid no attention to him.
• I will listen to you but that will not change my opinion on the subject.
• I am very interested in the subject, but I don't have time to attend the talk.
• He would love to change cars but now he has no money to do it.
• Should change city, but his work prevents him.
• I thought I would pass the exam but I hadn't studied enough.

This is the most common use of but.

Despite this, we can find it in other situations providing a different value to the sentences of which it functions as a link. Thus, we can say that it can be used at the beginning of a sentence. The meaning in this case is that of emphasize the message you want to express. There are no precedents and therefore no contrast is established between them. Let's see some examples in these sentences to understand it better:

• But Didn't you hear me?
• ¡But well! What are you doing here hiding?
• ¡But what spectacular views!
• ¡But, please! Now are you also going to be on his side?
• But What are you saying? I dont believe it.
• But, Miguel, what have you done? It's all messy.
• But What kind of joke is this?

Although it is less frequent we can also find but used as a noun. In these cases, it will fulfill the same functions as these within the sentence. When we meet but as a name it is because it has acquired meaning and refers to failure, defect or objection. These examples will help you to know what we are referring to by this functionality:

• The academic committee was reviewing his file and could not find a single but in the.
• I will not ask you for any more favors. Every time I say something to him he gives me a but.
• The students accepted the teacher's punishment without buts.
• Passed the selection test without a but.
• I can't put a but to your lasagna, she is delicious!
• No matter how much he analyzed it, he did not find a but in the report.

We hope this lesson has helped you to know in depth what kind of word but is. If you want to continue knowing more about Spanish language Do not hesitate to visit our sections where you will find other content that will help you daily with your tasks and improve your level of Spanish. Still do not know our content? What are you waiting for? Browse our website and keep improving your knowledge every day.