词典词条 · 问答

but ³

核心问题

(1)Not a man but had tears in his eyes. (LDCE)

(2) Never a month passes but she writes to her old parents. (OSD)

(3) It never rains but it pours. (Prov)

(4) No man is too old but he may learn. (ALD)

请问上面四句中的 but 的意义和用法是否相同?

词典解答

句(1)和句(4)中的 but 虽然都具有否定意义,但是它们却有本质的区别。句(1)中的 but 是个关系代词(相当于 that... not, who... not),充当从句的主语(不会再有其他主语)。句(1)的意思是:没有一个人眼睛里不含着眼泪。而句(4)中的 but 是个连词,是 but that 的省略形式,它引出的从句带有结果含义。下面是类似的例子(请注意分析 but 的两种不同的用法):

  1. No task is so difficult but we can accomplish it. (Mis) 没有什么困难的任务是我们不能完成的。

  2. Nothing is so hard but (that) it becomes easy by practice. 任何难事通过练习都可以变为易事。(例1-2中的but为连词)

  3. True, it is not dull—indeed there is not a paragraph in it but sparkles with lucidity and grace... (RWRT) 确实,它并不枯燥无味——实际上其中没有一段不闪烁着清晰而优雅的光辉……

  4. There was no one but knows that. (COD) 没有人不知道这件事。

  5. There is not one of us but wishes to help you. (ALD) 我们之中没有一个人不愿意帮助你。

  6. There are very few but admire his talents. (Clark) 很少有人不敬佩他的才华。

  7. There is no rule but has exception. 没有无例外的规则(凡规则都有例外)(例3-7中的but为关系代词)。

句(2)和句(3)中的 but 的意思和用法是相同的。but 是个连词, 是 but that 的省略形式。而 but that 在语义上相当于 except thatbut (that)except that 一样, 引出的是例外分句。句(2)可译为: 她没有一个月不给她年老的双亲写信(她每个月都给年老的父母写信)。句(3)可译为: 每次下雨都是下倾盆大雨(不下则已, 下则倾盆)。为了便于理解, 亦可直译为: 除了下倾盆大雨之外, 就是总不下雨了(参见 never...but)

练习题

请做下面的英语试题:

  1. There was not a single person there but who thought you were in the right. A B C D

  2. It is one of those true sayings that there is no one ____ errs. A. that B. who C. what D. but

来源:英语常见问题解答大词典-2.md · 第 57125749 行 · 原文哈希 93ce501718