However...but ?

sita · Post by **sita** » Tue May 06, 2003 8:13 pm

However vs but!

Hi!

Could someone please explain the difference between the two, the only difference I can see is that one can't begin a sentence with but.

Siân

jly_eslcafe · Post by **jly_eslcafe** » Tue May 06, 2003 8:28 pm

Sita,

One of the difference is that "however" is more formal compared to "but". Thus when writing a formal document, I would be more inclined to use "however".

~ Jennifer

joon · Post by **joon** » Tue May 06, 2003 10:18 pm

(1) He is intelligent; however, he is also ugly.

(2) He is intelligent, but he is also ugly.

Harzer · Post by **Harzer** » Wed May 07, 2003 5:08 am

Der Unterschied ist derselbe wie der zwischen 'aber' und 'jedoch/dennoch/trotzdem' und wie sie alle heißen.

sita · Post by **sita** » Wed May 07, 2003 5:13 am

Dear Harzer!

Where is the difference between aber and jedoch?

Best wishes
Siân

Roger · Post by **Roger** » Thu May 08, 2003 1:46 pm

"I tried hard but I did not succeed" (but = conjunction);
"I tried hard; however, I did not succeed" (adverb).

"However" also has the meaning of "whatever means or ways", "in whatever way".
Semantically, both are adversative (introducing a clause that seems to contradict the preceding element). Syntactically, "but" can only be used in dependent clauses.

sita · Post by **sita** » Thu May 08, 2003 4:00 pm

Thank you very much for your help!

Siân