Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[Teo]

1. No leaders worthy of the name ever existed but they were optimists.
2. There is no doubt but that it must be done.
3. I don't know but what I will go.
Can anyone explain or paraphrase the above sentences?
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Thank you very much for your reply.

[Eric Thompson]

Hello Teo, Well, let's look at #1. The word 'name' refers to the word 'leaders'. So, the writer thinks the 'leaders' are not really leaders, which is a negative idea. Then, the writer uses 'but' to introduce a positive idea (being optimists). That's a contrast, the purpose of using 'but'. #2 Here, the word 'but' is not really necessary. 'But' is a conjunction, but so is 'that' in this case. We don't need two conjunctions. If you take out 'that', the sentence is not good English. To paraphrase: The writer feels sure that it must be done. #3 This sentence isn't good English. If you take out 'what' and put in 'where', it makes sense. But again, you would not need 'but'. 'Where' is good enough by itself as a conjunction. In #2 and #3, the 'but' is added as an embellishment that some 'authors', 'novelists', etc. like to use. But for learning good, basic, conversational English, you should just ignore and avoid it. Ok?--Eric

[CP]

1. No leaders worthy of the name ever existed but they were optimists.
Translation: All leaders who ever existed were optimists.
The writer is saying that if the people who called themselves leaders were really leaders (worthy of the name leader), then they were optimists.

2. There is no doubt but that it must be done.
Translation: It must be done, and there is no doubt about it.
I don't like the construction, but it is common enough. It is really no better than or different from "There is no doubt that it must be done" or even "No doubt it must be done." Simpler is better.

3. I don't know but what I will go.
Translation: I probably will go.
Again, not the best way to express it, but common enough.
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You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb