Learning English

However

Here are the last few sentences from the story of Ken and the thunderstorm from the previous activity.

In spite of the danger I think I'd do it again. Next time I won't take an umbrella, however. It kept me dry but it was not a good idea.

However is an adverb and it comes after a statement that is going to be contrasted. If you remove however, the sentence would still make sense. It's not essential to the meaning. 

Like most adverbs it can come at different places in the sentence and in writing it is followed by a comma:

• However, next time I won't take an umbrella.
• Next time, however, I won't take an umbrella.
• Next time I won't take an umbrella, however.

But

This conjunction is probably the easiest and most common way to contrast two ideas.

• It kept me dry but it was not a good idea.
• I like it but I'm not going to buy it.
• He told me he loved me but I don't believe him.
• They played really well but still lost.

It comes before the clause that has the contrast. Unlike however it can't come at different places in a clause: 

• It kept me dry it was not but a good idea. Wrong
• It kept me dry it was not a good idea but.Wrong
• It kept me dry but it was not a good idea. Right 

ነቲ ጽሑፍ ብምንባብ ነቲ ስራሕ ዕመምዎ

Using but and however at the beginning of a sentence

Some people believe that it is a mistake to begin a sentence with 'but' or 'however'. But, this isn't correct. There is no grammatical reason why you can't or shouldn't; however, if you don't want to use one of these words at the beginning of a sentence, you can use a semi-colon before the contrasting clause instead of a full-stop.

• In spite of the danger I think I'd do it again. However, next time I won't take an umbrella. Right
• In spite of the danger I think I'd do it again; however, next time I won't take an umbrella. Right

However: other uses

However isn't always used to contrast things. Look at the following examples where however is an adjective that means "It doesn't matter how ..." or "No matter how..."

• However hard you try, you won't succeed.
• However much I get paid, it isn't enough. 
• I don't believe you, however many times you tell me it's true. 

In these next examples, however is part of an adverbial phrase which means 'any way'.

• You can work it out however you want, either in your head or with a calculator.
• There are lots of different ways to do the same thing in this software, so feel free to do it however you want.
• However you look at it they should have won. They were the better team by far.

But: other uses

But also has some uses that are not directly related to contrasting ideas. Look at these examples where the meaning is like except:

• I had no choice but to do what she said.
• You can have any one but the red ones.
• He gave me everything but his love.

In the next example it means if it were it not for:

• I could have been a professional footballer but for the fact I had no talent.
• But for a serious injury he would have played in the final.

To do

Do you know the difference between however and but? Test yourself in the quiz!

Next

You might have had enough of this topic, but if not, there's more to come with Finn and Catherine in 6 Minute Grammar!