but as except - Expressions
Out of the Books Stuff
Experience English-in-Action To view basic grammar please click Grammarmail.com
Look at the following sentences
He was last but not the least. ( to arrive at a party)He was last but one. (in the race)
In the first sentence but acts as a conjunction. In the second sentences but refers to one before the last person.
Sample A
The children do nothing but play all the day. (= the children play all the day.)She has done all the jobs but for one. ( = except one she has finished every thing.)
But for Shane everyone has attended the party. (= except Shane all have attended the party.)
He does nothing but play videogames all the day. (= He spends all the day, playing games.)
Please take the book but one. ( = not the first one but the one after it.)
What could he do but to forgive his son. ( = to forgive is the only choice.)
The president has no choice but to dissolve the parliament.
Who, but Joe alone could talk something like that. (= except Joe nobody could talk like that.)
Sample B
But for Jim I wouldn’t have reached the railway station on time. (Jim helped me reach the railway station on time, otherwise I would have missed the train.)But for the heavy rain the flight would have landed on time. (The heavy rain prevented the landing of flight on time.)
The army would have been in great trouble but for the timely help of the local people. (The local people provided timely help to the army.)
Sample C
The small object on the table is nothing but a camera. ( The object on the table is camera, and nothing else.)She is nothing but a child. (She behaves almost like a child.)
An old man shouted at children “ You are nothing but devils.” The old man referring the children as devils.
But as an idiom
The Boss said, “ let’s have no buts, all must put their efforts jointly.”The army captain shouted, “ there is no ifs and buts in the battle field, when we are about to win.” ( no excuses, come what may.)
End of the post
Next Update - 14th June 2013
Old Posts and Topics
1 - This , that Click post 1
2 - Basic Grammar Click Grammarmail.com
3 - This, it, am,is,are Click post 3
4 - am, is are, and contractions (aren't = are not) Click 4
5 - was,were and preposition (at,in,on----> time,place and season) Click 5
6 - will/shall + be Click 6
7 - one,ones,its,it's and that Click 7
8 - There is, there are, there will be Click 8
9 - Going to , going to be Click 9
10 - Have/have got , has/has got Click 10
11 - Had, have,will/shall + have ..........Click post11
12 - Have/has to must ....... Click Post12
13 - Have/has + been ......... Click post13
14 - I go, we go, she goes ...... Click post14
15 - I am writing, we are ........ Click Post15
16 - She used to visit ...............Click Post 16
17 - Present perfect , I have done...Click Post 17
18 - Vocabulary Introduction - Click 18
19 - Have been, for....since - Click 19
20 - Possessives, my, mine - Click 20
21 - Subject-Verb Agreement, the soul of English - Click 21
22 - Past Tense - Practical usage - Click 22
23 - Past Continuous Tense - Click 23
24 - Future Tense - Click 24
25 - Modals-1 can, could, able to, may and might - Click 25
26 - Past perfect Tense, Click 26
27- would usage - Click 27
28 - must usage - Click 28
29- Practical usage of it's (1) - Click 29
30- Practical usage of it's (2) - Click 30
31- If Conditionals - Click 31
32- Conjunction (1) - Click 32
33- am is are revised - Click 33
34- Question Tags in Conversation - Click 34
35- Question Tags- 2 - Click 35
36- Short responses. - Click 36
37- Question Tags-3. - Click 37
38- Additions in talks. - Click 38
39- Agreement and disagreement. - Click 39
40- Sarcastic comments. - Click 40
41- Comparison and Contrast. - Click 41
42 - Questioning Techniques -1. - Click 42
43 - Question making Skill -2. - Click 43
44- Question like Statements - 3. - Click 44
45 - Odd Questions in English - Click 45
46 - Making Negative Questions - Click 46
47- Common Errors in English - Click 47
48- Common Errors in English (2) Click 48
49- Prepositions - Time and occasion Click 49
50- have has had practical usage Click 50
51- Tenses in Brief Click 51
52- Talking about future Click 52
53- Power of passive voice (1) Click 53
54- Power of Passive voice (2) - Click 54
55 - am is are Revised - Click 55
56- am is are Revised (2) Click 56
57- Pronunciation in English Click 57
58- Vocabulary Building Click 58
59 - Noun > Verb > Adj Interchange Click 59
60 - Plurals in English Click 60
61 - Short forms Click 61
62 - Measurement description Click 62
63 - How to greet? Click 63
64 - Parting talks Click 64
65 - Ability/inability expressions. Click 65
66 - Request expressions Click 66
TIPS TO HONE YOUR ENGLISH SKILL FASTER
* News paper is the greatest resource for English learners and practitioners. Choose the news items of your taste. Click NY Times to view NY Times. Click The Guardian to View The Guardian. - Don't miss the interviews on current issues – 30 minutes
*Learn at lest two new words and their usage daily, from a dictionary. Click Oxford to view Oxford Dictionary - 10 minutes
*Phonetic symbols in oxford dictionary will help you to pronounce a word correctly, if you are a new to these symbols click Oxford Pronunciation to learn the symbols with audio (It's very simple.)
*Listen to the pronunciation of the words/sentences by clicking PRONUNCIATION. You can also find the meaning of any English word instantly in important international languages.
*Always think in English. Imagine the sentences (your speak) visually and also in different contexts.
* Converse with yourself using the simple structures or with a group. - 10 minutes
*Avoid speaking English in the written way.
*To visit Conversation site(1), CLICK HERE. (This site is owned by the www.focusenglish.com)
*To visit Conversation site(2), CLICK HERE. (This site is owned by www.English626.com)
*To listen to BBC world news switch on you speaker Click BBC
* To browse Oxford Dictionary Click View
(This is a very simple process with few clicks you will be an expert.)
* Learning to converse Click Converse (Turn on your speakers)
IS THERE ANY AUTHENTIC BOOK ON COMMUNICATIVE/SPOKEN ENGLISH ?
Is there any book on swimming strokes or driving skill ? One has to author as many spoken English books as there are learners, because no two individuals can speak, listen or understand in the same way. Context and word combinations, popular in a region may be a taboo in another region. One should be fully aware of the culture of the region before uttering words combinations. There is an amusing anecdote for all. Some time back a popular brand of a soft drink (company) in a very popular country repeatedly released its slogan in mass media, taste the thunder , which means passing out gas (Flatulence), The brand was very popular in that country.
WHY THIS SITE FOR COMMUNICATIVE/SPOKEN ENGLISH TRAINING?
There are many sites available on this subject, all justify their existence, then what makes this site a unique one?
Language learning is a complex process, it is a tool of communication , it is different from the subject (Science, Economics etc.) learning. We do not recommend grammar approach, this will make the speech mechanical and robot like. Spoken sentences cannot be gauged with the grammar rules, for spoken sentences accompany emotions ,expressions,signals (body language) etc. some times silence too conveys something. Our approach is purely based on functional or practical grammar, we call it utility grammar. This approach is a usage based, we provide the basic structures which help the learners to generate their own sentences (we are not for memorization of dialogues, idioms,phrases etc. of a particular situation). We use plain language to avoid confusion. No two individuals can speak in same way (Though they are taught the same structures). The delivery of sentences depends on individual's personality, emotions ,experiences etc. Once the learner is familiar with the basic structure , he/she can switch over to idiomatic English or his/her own style at a later stage. Please do remember that ads and news headlines seldom follow grammar rules. The simple methodology used here will make you speak English on you own right now.
CAN ANYONE SPEAK ENGLISH WITH THE HELP OF THIS WRITTEN ATERIAL?
Surely the words in this written work are mute spectators,but they guide and direct you like a sign board on the carriage way/highway. We show you the direction, it is up to you to reach the destination, please do remember speed is important on the carriage way/highway (neither too slow nor too fast). This methodology will make you the master of yourself. The best learning is learning by self. Look at the dash board,you are on the carriage way/high way of your career, best wishes.
FIVE IMPORTANT TYPES OF SPOKEN SENTENCES (There are many, but I stress the following five)
1.This is a machine (Simple sentence/statement)
2.This is not a machine (Negative sentence)
3.Is this a machine? ('Yes/No' Question)
4.Is this not a machine?/Isn't this a machine?('yes/no'Negative question)
5.What is this? ('Wh' question)
6.Why is this not a machine?/.Why isn't this a machine? ('wh'-negative question)
The above five types of spoken sentences can be spoken in eight or more ways of utterance, (by changing stress tone body language etc.) culture also plays an important role in sentence formation. Slightest change in voice modulation/ facial expression/ body language gives different meaning of the same sentence.Punching words can be made soft and soft words can be made punching using the above technique.
Eight or more ways of uttering each of the above types.
1. This is a machine. statement/declaration/information/truth/message
2.This is a machine?(stress on 'machine') Declarative question.
3.This is a machine! ( When it doesn't appear as machine) Exclamatory sentence.
4.This is a machine ? (When you are not satisfied with the machine) Angry statement.
5. This is a machine .( When the machine not assembled properly) Joke statement
6.This is a machine. (When you are not satisfied) Insulting statement
7.This is a machine. ( when the machine looks clumsy/improper)Complaint statement.
8. This is a machine . (Baby talk)) Childish talk.
In the same way we can change the other five types of spoken sentences into eight moods of utterance.
DECLARATION
The Material published here is authentic and is protected by www.myfreecopyright.com. We also blog at www.angrazy.com. Both the blogs i.e www.angrazy.blogspot.com and www.angrazy.com are owned and managed by the same blogger (Mohammed Fayaz). Some Feeble minded people accuse us of copyright violation, without verifying the facts.
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