1 00:00:00,560 --> 00:00:05,000 I wasn't really sure what I was going to talk about here on the podcast, 2 00:00:05,559 --> 00:00:11,119 but then I decided to do this. This lesson is going to be 3 00:00:11,439 --> 00:00:21,320 nothing but expressions using but and but for a short conversation. It's just going 4 00:00:21,359 --> 00:00:26,280 to be me doing the talking. As you know, I am but your 5 00:00:26,559 --> 00:00:36,280 humble English teacher. Welcome to another Happy English podcast coming to you from New 6 00:00:36,359 --> 00:00:41,799 York City. And here's your English teacher, Michael al Ry. Thank you 7 00:00:41,920 --> 00:00:47,119 John, and thanks everyone. It's Michael here from Happy English and I help 8 00:00:47,240 --> 00:00:55,560 people speak English better. This is Happy English Podcast, Episode seven point thirty 9 00:00:55,640 --> 00:01:03,799 one, using but. I couldn't do anything this morning but think about how 10 00:01:03,840 --> 00:01:08,879 to teach you these five ways to use butt. In fact, I couldn't 11 00:01:08,920 --> 00:01:17,000 come up with anything but the following conversation. Now, listen to a conversation 12 00:01:17,120 --> 00:01:21,640 between two friends. As you listen, try to pay attention to the phrases 13 00:01:21,680 --> 00:01:25,519 with but they are using. Hey, Sam, did you finish the book 14 00:01:25,560 --> 00:01:27,159 I lent you. I tried to read it, but I couldn't get into 15 00:01:27,280 --> 00:01:33,200 it. Really I thought it was fascinating. Well, everyone has different tastes. 16 00:01:33,680 --> 00:01:37,000 Sorry about that. It was anything but my cup of tea. Oh 17 00:01:37,040 --> 00:01:40,359 well, maybe the next one will be better. So what did you do 18 00:01:40,439 --> 00:01:45,200 this weekend? Nothing but chores. I cleaned the entire house. That sounds 19 00:01:45,200 --> 00:01:49,239 exhausting. I went to a concert and it was amazing, but too crowded. 20 00:01:49,560 --> 00:01:53,000 Yeah, crowds can be a hassle. By the way, are you 21 00:01:53,079 --> 00:01:56,359 still working on that project? I am but a simple worker in a big 22 00:01:56,400 --> 00:02:00,000 project, and it's quite challenging. I understand sometimes you can do nothing but 23 00:02:00,079 --> 00:02:04,159 your best. Exactly. Well, I'm heading to the gym, now, 24 00:02:04,400 --> 00:02:09,879 see you later. First of all, but introduces a contrast to what was 25 00:02:10,199 --> 00:02:17,319 just said with this usage, but means However, and this is the most 26 00:02:17,560 --> 00:02:25,479 basic usage of but that I think everyone learns. First, Connie studied hard, 27 00:02:27,240 --> 00:02:31,599 but she didn't pass the exam. Sally said she liked the color of 28 00:02:31,639 --> 00:02:38,280 the dress, but the length was too short. Brian's a nice looking man, 29 00:02:38,879 --> 00:02:46,400 but he's not so smart. We also use but to mean only or 30 00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:52,759 just. This has a rather formal sound to me. I am but a 31 00:02:52,960 --> 00:03:00,039 simple English teacher, not a poet. Doesn't that sound formal? Lucy's his 32 00:03:00,199 --> 00:03:06,400 daughter is but a child, yet she speaks like an adult. They were 33 00:03:06,520 --> 00:03:10,919 but a few minutes late for the meeting, and the boss was fuming. 34 00:03:13,319 --> 00:03:19,080 We can also use but in a negative sentence to mean except or except four. 35 00:03:20,719 --> 00:03:24,639 Because of the heavy rain, they couldn't do anything but stay inside the 36 00:03:24,680 --> 00:03:30,759 whole weekend. We finished the exam, so there's nothing we can do but 37 00:03:31,039 --> 00:03:38,159 wait for the results. The park was deserted but for a few joggers. 38 00:03:38,759 --> 00:03:46,439 The library was quiet but for the sound of pages turning. Lastly, we 39 00:03:46,599 --> 00:03:54,319 have the phrases anything but and nothing but. We use anything but to mean 40 00:03:54,840 --> 00:04:01,879 entirely, not or not at all. We generally use the phrase anything but 41 00:04:02,840 --> 00:04:12,000 followed by an adjective. That sales meeting yesterday was anything but productive. The 42 00:04:12,039 --> 00:04:17,560 food in that restaurant we went to for lunch was anything but delicious. His 43 00:04:17,839 --> 00:04:26,920 story he told about meeting Matt Damon was anything but true. And finally, 44 00:04:27,000 --> 00:04:32,000 for today, we use nothing but to mean a lot of We generally use 45 00:04:32,079 --> 00:04:40,000 the phrase nothing but followed by a noun or a noun phrase. We had 46 00:04:40,160 --> 00:04:46,560 nothing but problems on our vacation. She talked about nothing but her vacation. 47 00:04:46,759 --> 00:04:53,399 The entire evening. During the hike, we saw nothing but beautiful scenery. 48 00:04:54,519 --> 00:04:59,160 Keep in mind the best way to remember this and any other word or phrase 49 00:04:59,199 --> 00:05:02,680 in English is to take that word or phrase, write it in a sentence 50 00:05:02,759 --> 00:05:09,199 that's true for you or true in your world, and then memorize your sentences 51 00:05:10,319 --> 00:05:14,639 by the way. Can you imagine getting the chance to practice this kind of 52 00:05:14,720 --> 00:05:19,000 English with me directly? You can get more practice using your English when you 53 00:05:19,120 --> 00:05:26,439 join my podcast Learner's Study Group. There you can make new friends, join 54 00:05:26,519 --> 00:05:30,680 us for live group lessons every week where we practice these podcast lessons together. 55 00:05:31,319 --> 00:05:38,800 Plus you get access to the pdf, transcript and audio download for every Happy 56 00:05:38,800 --> 00:05:43,920 English podcast in the past and in the future. And on top of that, 57 00:05:44,639 --> 00:05:49,439 each episode has exercises where you can practice this English point with speaking and 58 00:05:49,480 --> 00:05:55,959 writing checked by me. To learn more, just visit Myhappy English dot com 59 00:05:56,199 --> 00:06:01,360 and choose podcast lesson seven point thirty one. Remember, learning another language is 60 00:06:01,399 --> 00:06:06,240 not easy, but it's not impossible, and I'm here to help you on 61 00:06:06,600 --> 00:06:13,120 your journey. This podcast is brought to you by Happy English. Please visit 62 00:06:13,519 --> 00:06:17,959 Myhappy English dot com show your support for Happy English by leaving us a review. 63 00:06:18,639 --> 00:06:34,279 Get English, Get Happy, Happy English.