50 Sentences Of But: Better Speaking And Grammar!

Today we are going to practice our English speaking, grammar, and communication with 50 sentences of but! These will help us show contrast. So, for example, you would like to talk about the good points and bad points of homework. You could say: “Doing homework is important, but it can be boring.”

50 sentences of but

Here are the first ones that will make up our 50 sentences of but today! Try your best to read them out loud and repeat them so that you can get comfortable with how to use the word in sentences.

1. My sister Jane likes coffee, but not tea.
2. I tried, but I couldn’t finish it.
3. He is smart but lazy.
4. I wanted to go to the beach today, but it started raining.
5. Marianne sings well, but she’s shy.
6. The horror movie was great, but a bit too spooky for my liking.
7. I wanted the red one, but it was sold out.
8. We were tired, but we kept on walking.
9. He is kind, but his brother is kind of rude.
10. I love ice cream, but I’m on a diet so I can’t have any!

Related: 100 Tag Question Examples: Better Speaking And Grammar!

Related: 55 Not Only But Also Sentences: Better Grammar Guide

But meaning and how to make a sentence

The word “but” is a conjunction. It is used to show contrast or an opposite idea between two parts of a sentence. For example, “I wanted to go, but I was too tired.” The first part says what you want, and the second part shows something that stops you from doing it.

To make a sentence with “but,” you simply connect two ideas. One idea can be positive, and the other can be negative. Here’s another example: “She likes coffee, but she drinks tea every day.” This shows two different choices. The word “but” helps us understand the difference between the two ideas.

When you use “but,” make sure the sentence is clear. It’s a useful way to show contrast without needing extra words. You can use “but” in both short and long sentences to link ideas together easily.

But and comma placement

When using “but” in a sentence, you often need a comma before it, but not always. If “but” connects two independent clauses (complete sentences), you should place a comma before it. For example, “I wanted to go, but it started raining.” However, if “but” connects a short phrase or a dependent clause, no comma is needed. For example, “She is tired but happy.” Remember, the comma helps clarify the sentence, especially when the parts are long or complicated. Check out these examples for comma placement (or not!).

With a comma	Without a comma
I wanted to go to the party, but I didn’t have enough time.	He is tired but excited to start the new project.
She studied hard, but she still didn’t pass the test.	I like the red shirt but prefer the blue one.
The weather was nice, but the wind was cold.	We can stay here but we need to leave soon.

Related: 50 Sentences With To: Better Speaking And Grammar!

Sentences with but

Here are some more example sentences with but. Keep reading and saying them out loud, you are doing great!

11. I want to go out, but it’s too cold.
12. Matt loves to run, but he hates to wake up early.
13. She acts well, but she’s shy.
14. They wanted to leave, but the bus was late.
15. I read the book, but I didn’t understand the ending.
16. The soup was hot, but the bread was cold.
17. She tried to help, but it was too difficult.
18. He plays guitar, but not very often.
19. I was tired, but I stayed up to finish my English homework.
20. We bought tickets, but the concert was canceled.

Related: Sentences With Were & Sentences With Was: Better English Grammar!

But in a sentence

Here are 10 more examples of but in a sentence. Keep reading and repeating, you’re doing great!

21. I like chocolate, but I prefer vanilla ice cream.
22. It’s raining, but I still want to go for a walk.
23. The English grammar test was hard, but I passed!
24. She is kind, but sometimes she is too honest.
25. I have a lot to do, but I can make time for you.
26. He likes sports, but he’s not very good at them.
27. I went to the park, but I forgot my sun hat.
28. They were hungry, but they didn’t have money.
29. The phone is expensive, but it’s worth it.
30. I want to travel, but I don’t have enough money.

50 sentences of but: But sentence examples

Here are some more but sentence examples. Carry on reading them out loud to become more comfortable with using the word “but”.

31. She invited me, but I couldn’t go.
32. The cake looks good, but it’s too sweet for me.
33. He has a car, but he prefers to bike.
34. It was late, but they kept talking.
35. She studied hard, but she still didn’t get an A.
36. I can drive, but I don’t have a car.
37. The movie was long, but it was exciting.
38. I want to buy a new jacket, but I don’t need one.
39. I love animals, but I’m allergic to cats.
40. They enjoyed the game, but they didn’t win.

50 sentences of but: advanced examples

Here are 5 examples of but in a sentence that focus on advanced English. Good for business or academic situations. If you are unsure of any of the vocabulary, look the words up in a dictionary, preferably an English-English one!

41. The proposal was well-received, but we still need to address several key concerns before moving forward.
42. The research findings are promising, but further studies are required to confirm the results.
43. The team is committed to meeting the deadline, but unforeseen circumstances may cause minor delays.
44. The budget allocation has been approved, but we must ensure all expenditures align with the company’s strategic goals.
45. The presentation was comprehensive, but we need additional data to strengthen the argument.

Can we start a sentence with but?

Yes, it’s perfectly fine to start a sentence with “but,” especially when you want to show contrast or a change in thought. Starting with “but” helps make the sentence more direct and clear. However, it’s important to ensure the sentence before it is complete and makes sense on its own. The part before “but” must be an independent clause with both a subject and a verb. For example, “I wanted to go out, but” is incomplete, while “I wanted to go out, but it was too late” is clear and makes sense. In my personal experience, using but at the beginning of a sentence as a way to respond to someone is the most common way that we start a sentence with but – and it is usually in question form. Take a look at these examples – they all focus on responding to someone.

50 sentences of but: But sentence starters

46. But I wasn’t ready.
47. But it didn’t work out.
48. But what about the dishes? We haven’t washed them yet so we can’t out!
49. But what about Mary? Shouldn’t we invite her to the party too?
50. But why did you say that?

Paragraph with but

Here’s a short fictional paragraph using but. Feel free to use it as inspiration for any writing projects which you may currently have!

Tom had always dreamed of traveling the world. He saved money for years, but his plans never seemed to work out. Every time he tried to book a flight, something went wrong. First, there was a family emergency that kept him home. Then, he lost his job. The money he had saved was gone. Still, Tom refused to give up. He took odd jobs and slowly started saving again. His friends told him he should quit and be realistic, but Tom was determined. One day, he finally had enough for a ticket. He packed his bags and headed to the airport, excited and nervous. As the plane took off, he smiled. It had taken longer than he expected, but he had made it. He finally landed in Switzerland, the first country on his world tour!

50 sentences of but: a handy English improvement!

I hope you have enjoyed reading and repeating today’s 50 sentences of but!

Practicing sentences with “but” is a great way to help your English improvement because it teaches you how to show contrast clearly. Using “but” helps you connect ideas and add variety to your sentences. It also helps you express different opinions or ideas in one sentence, which is important for fluent communication. For example, you can say, “I like coffee, but I prefer tea.” This gives more information and shows both sides of a situation. The more you practice, the better you’ll understand how to use “but” to make your speaking and writing more natural and effective.