High School

Compose sentences according to the model. Use "but for" + noun/pronoun.

**Model:**
- I don't want to tell you this, but I promised to.
- But for my promise, I wouldn't tell you this.

- He didn't die. The operation saved him.
- But for the operation, he would have died.

**Tasks:**
1. He wants to go swimming, but the water is cold.
- But for the cold water, he would go swimming.

2. He couldn't see us off as he was busy at the office.
- But for his busy schedule at the office, he would have seen us off.

3. She wasn't alone in the house; her husband was asleep in his room.
- But for her husband's presence, she would have been alone in the house.

4. I want to go, but I have an examination tomorrow.
- But for my examination tomorrow, I would go.

5. In the end, he went to see the doctor. His wife made him do it.
- But for his wife's insistence, he wouldn't have gone to see the doctor.

6. It began to rain, and we didn't go for a walk.
- But for the rain, we would have gone for a walk.

7. We couldn't have a picnic. The weather was too bad.
- But for the bad weather, we would have had a picnic.

8. Of course, I want to help you, but I have a conference today.
- But for my conference today, I would help you.

9. He had a good guide, so he could see all the sights.
- But for the good guide, he wouldn't have seen all the sights.

10. You can't prepare the contract because the computer is out of order.
- But for the computer being out of order, you could prepare the contract.

**Translate the words in brackets:**

1. But for her spelling, she (получила бы) an excellent mark for her composition.
- But for her spelling, she would have received an excellent mark for her composition.

2. But for my sister's help, I (не смогла бы)...
- But for my sister's help, I wouldn't have been able to...

Answer :

The student's question involves understanding how to use 'but for' in sentences to express a condition that makes something happen or prevents something from happening. Let's go through each sentence step-by-step:

  1. He wants to go swimming but the water is cold.

    • But for the cold water, he would go swimming.

  2. He couldn't see us off as he was busy at the office.

    • But for being busy at the office, he could have seen us off.

  3. She wasn't alone in the house, her husband was asleep in his room.

    • But for her husband being in the house, she would have been alone.

  4. I want to go but I have an examination tomorrow.

    • But for the examination tomorrow, I would go.

  5. In the end, he went to see the doctor. His wife made him do it.

    • But for his wife making him go, he wouldn’t have seen the doctor.

  6. It began to rain and we didn't go for a walk.

    • But for the rain, we would have gone for a walk.

  7. We couldn't have a picnic. The weather was too bad.

    • But for the bad weather, we could have had a picnic.

  8. Of course I want to help you but I have a conference today.

    • But for the conference today, I would help you.

  9. He had a good guide so he could see all the sights.

    • But for the good guide, he wouldn’t have seen all the sights.

  10. You can't prepare the contract because the computer is out of order.

  • But for the computer being out of order, you could prepare the contract.

In task 11, we need to translate some parts from Russian to English:

  1. But for her spelling she (получила бы) an excellent mark for her composition.

    • But for her spelling, she would have received an excellent mark for her composition.

  2. But for my sister's help I (не смогла бы)

    • But for my sister's help, I would not have been able to.

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