0
Mariott Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

But

Unlike all the other social insect species that live in cold climates, honeybees do not survive winter in dormancy, but as fully functioning colonies in self-heated nests.

The structure of this sentence is very unfamiliar to me. Especailly the last part is somewhat strange.

I guess the underlined part probably means honeybees survive only when they fully function in self-heated nests.

I'm not sure though. Is there some grammatical rules for the use of 'but'?

Thanks in advance!
  

Top answer

I guess the underlined part probably means honeybees survive only when they fully function in self-heated nests. - - Not what you say here. Honeybees do not have a choice.

— Mister Micawber

  • I guess the underlined part probably means honeybees survive only when they fully function in self-heated nests.
  • - - Not what you say here.
  • Honeybees do not have a choice.
  • They survive even though they are fully-functioning (most insects hibernate or pass the winter in a dormant stage (like a chrysalis).
  • Unlike all the other social insect species that live in cold climates, honeybees do not survive winter in dormancy , but as fully functioning colonies in self-heated nests.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

2 Answers
0
I guess the underlined part probably means honeybees survive only when they fully function in self-heated nests. -- Not what you say here. Honeybees do not have a choice. They survive even though they are fully-functioning (most insects hibernate or pass the winter in a dormant stage (like a chrysalis).

Unlike all the other social insect species that live in cold climat
0
0
Thanks a lot Mister Micawber! I thought honeybees cannot survive winter in dormancy.

Now it's clear!
0

Related Questions