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fanshining
How to understand these sentences ? p Eg : Why should a sequence of words be anything but a pleasure? My understanding is why should a sequence of words is everything but a pleasure. But someone told me I was wrong , the sentence means "why should a sequence of words is nothing but pleasure" But everything means anything , doesn't it ? And another question : 1) I love nobody but you 2)I love anybody but you Do the two sentences share the sane meaning ? then how about this one "I like everybody but you " So can one give me others examples of this kind of sentences ? Thank you in advance ~. ^ z ^
Sep 12, 2015 6:28 AM
Answers · 2
In the first sentence, "but" is used like "other than". "Why should a sequence of words be anything but a pleasure?" meaning that the speaker sees no reason for a sequence of words to be anything other than pleasure. A sequence of words is pleasure and nothing else. Both of those sentences are a little awkward, however: "I love nobody but you" means "You are the only person I love." "I love anybody but you" means "You are the only person I don't love." Again, "but" is being used in the "other than" sense. More natural ways to say those sentences: "I don't love anybody/anyone but you" or simply "You're the only one I love." "I love everybody/everyone except you."
September 12, 2015
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