We use the word "but" to show difference. It is like the opposite of "and".
- She is smart and nice. (2 good things)
- The house is old and expensive. (2 bad things)
- He is stupid but nice. (1 good thing 1 bad thing)
- The house is nice but expensive. (1 good thing 1 bad thing)
We also use "but" to show something unexpected or surprising.
- I studied hard, but I failed the test.
- She is pretty and nice, but she doesn't have a boyfriend.
- She loves cooking, but she hates eating.
- We often use "but" to connect 2 shorter sentences.
Sentence, + but + sentence
Separate the two sentences with a comma when writing.
- They are short, but they are good at basketball.
- Math is hard, but science is easy for me.
- Pizza is delicious, but carrots are disgusting.
- I like her, but she doesn't like me.
- The hotel is old and dirty, but it is still expensive.
Also, we can use different verb tenses in the sentences.
- He is a good worker, but he was a bad student when he was young.
- The cookies are cold now, but they were warm an hour ago.
- The TV show is boring now, but the 1st season was so exciting.
- I exercised today, but I will not exercise tomorrow.
- I didn't go on vacation this year, but I am going to go next year.
We can also use "but" between two adjectives or nouns when the subject is the same.
He is big, but not strong.
(=He is big, but he is not strong.)
The man is fast but weak.
(=The man is fast, but he is weak.)
Bonus Tips and Points
1. We can use "but" when we are saying no politely.
A) Would you like to go on a date with me?
B) I would like to, but I have a boyfriend.
A) Could you help me with this report?
B) I am sorry, but I have a meeting in 20 minutes.
2. We can use "but" to criticize something in a nicer, softer way.
A) It looks pretty good, but I think we can improve the introduction.
B) I agree.
A) How does this dress look?
B) I like the color, but I don't think it is a good style for you.
A) How is James doing at work?
B) He works hard, but he makes many mistakes.
3. We use "but" when talking about the pros (+) and cons (-) of something.
A) This apartment is in a great neighborhood, but I think it is too expensive for us.
B) I really like it, but I think you are right.
A) This car is the fastest and coolest, but it is not very safe.
B) It is a beautiful car, but since safety is the most important thing for me I think I need to look at a different kind of car.
A) That company offers a high salary and incredible benefits, but the employees have to work very long hours and it can be quite stressful.
B) No job is perfect. They offer a high salary for a reason. You just need to decide what you want.
4. We can also put "but" at the beginning of a sentence.
He is very handsome. But he does not have a girlfriend.
I like avocados and they are healthy. But they are too expensive where I live.
Note: Many people avoid using "but" at the beginning of a sentence when they write, but it is not a problem if you do it sometimes. If you want to avoid using "but", then just use the word "however" at the beginning of a sentence. It has the same meaning.
Sentence Patterns using "Or"
We use "or" to give choices, options, and alternatives. Look at this example.
You can have Coca-Cola or Sprite.
This means you can choose one. You cannot have both.
But, look at this example.
You can have Coca-Cola and Sprite.
This means that you can have both.
We can use "or" between nouns, adjectives, and prepositional phrases. We can use "or" in sentences and questions.
- Do you want pizza or chicken?
- Does she work at a car company or at an accounting firm?
- Will you visit your parents or your boyfriend next vacation?
- She will be at the coffee shop or at the library.
- We have to be quiet or leave.
- I think I will have the chicken salad or a cheeseburger.
- She can stay or go. It is her choice.
We can also use "or" to connect two sentences. We use it to make two short sentences into one long sentence. Use a comma before "or" when writing.
- She can quit, or we will fire her. It is her choice.
- I will help you, or you can try to do it on your own.
- You can buy tickets at the door, or you can pre-order them online.
- We can return it to the store, or we can send it back by mail.
- We can either work late Friday night, or we can come into work on Saturday morning.
- I will help you, or she will help you.
We can also add the choices after a complete question. This is most commonly used when speaking.
- Where did you go – Thailand or Japan?
- What do you want to do – see a movie or go bowling?
- How do you want to go there – by bus or by taxi?
- Why do you like her – because she is nice or because she is pretty?
Bonus Tips and Points
1. Sometimes we use "or" when we are making a threat, warning somebody, or telling the consequences of an action.
- Finish the project, or you will be fired.
- Come on time, or we will leave without you.
- Give it to me, or I will punch you in the face.
2. We often use "or else" when making a threat, giving a warning, or telling about consequences.
- You need to come on time, or else you will get in trouble.
- She must tell the police the truth, or else she will go to jail.
- Tell me, or else I'll hurt you.
Sometimes, we end the sentence with "or else". In these cases, we are not telling the other person exactly what we will do. We assume that they know, or we let them imagine.
- Tell me the truth or else.
- She needs to be successful on this project or else.
- Win or else.
3. It is very common to use "either...or...". "Either" just emphasizes the choices.
- We can eat either pizza or chicken.
- I want to either visit a place with great museums or a place with a beautiful beach.
- He should either stop complaining all the time or quit his job.
Real-World English Conversations
A) Do you have any time today or tomorrow?
B) I have time today. What's up?
A) Nothing major. I just need to talk to you about the project.
A) We have a 3-day weekend this week. Do you want to go somewhere, or do you want to stay home?
B) Three days is not really a lot of time. So, I think I would rather stay home and eat something delicious like pizza or chicken.
A) Do you want to watch a horror or action movie?
B) I prefer action movies.
A) Sounds good. What do you want to eat – popcorn or candy?
B) Get me both, please.
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