1. 连接词或短语

It was a sunny but not very warm day. 那一天天气晴朗，却不太暖和。

He drives not carefully but slowly. 他开车不是很小心，而是开得很慢。

2. 连接句子

This isn’t a good one but it will answer. 这不太好，但可以将就用。

He looks honest, but actually he’s a rogue. 他看起来很老实，实际他是一个坏蛋。

She has had no answer to him but he gave no answer. 我向他说了早上好，但他没有回应。

The ice remained, but there was no water underneath. 冰还在，但下面却没有水。

Mrs. Brown was about to begin, but Jennie spoke first. 布朗夫人正要开始讲话，珍妮先讲了。

At first he was a little shy, but now he acts more natural. 开始时他有些腼腆但现在他表现得很自然了。

There was a little trouble at first, but things were soon quiet. 起初有点小麻烦后来情况就平静了。

3. 用于句首

But that question doesn’t arise. 但没发生那个问题。

But in secret she was delighted. 但她暗中感到高兴。

But what else can we do? 我们还能做什么?

But in the end he gave in. 但最后他还是让步了。

But there’s one thing we are agreed on. 但有一点大家的意见是一致的。

4. 用于道歉的表达之后

Sorry, but we’re behind schedule. 抱歉，我们落在计划后了。

I’m frightfully sorry, but I can’t see you today. 太对不起了，我今天不能见你。

Excuse me, but I don’t think that’s quite true. 很抱歉，我认为这与事实略有出入。

5. 用于not…but…，表示“不是……而是……”

Not you but I am to blame. 不是你的错而是我的错。

6. 用在某些否定语后，表示“只……”：

He eats nothing but hamburgers. 他只吃汉堡包。

She knows no one but you. 她只认识你。

You have nobody but yourself to blame. 只能怪你自己。

No one but me saw her. 只有我看见他。

7. 用于next (last) but one 中，表示“隔壁再过去”“倒数第……”

He lives in the next house but one. 他住在隔壁再过去一家。

He was the last but one to arrive. 他是倒数第二个到的。

8. can’t help but 不由得不……

You can’t help but respect them. 你不由得不尊敬他们。

When they gave him a ticket to the game, he couldn’t help but go. 他们给了他一张看球赛的票，他不由得不去。

I can’t help but wonder what I should do next. 我不由得不想知道下一步该怎么办。

【注意】不要按汉语意思将“虽然…但是…”直译为although…but…：

误：Though we are poor, but we are happy. (去掉though或but中任一个)