But as

Question

Everyone has told a lie at one point, but as it contradicts something we know to be true, lies are always exposed, revealing the truth beneath them.
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please explain the use of three commas here.
what is the grammatical form and function "but as" here?

GPY · Accepted Answer

Jigneshbharatiplease explain the use of three commas here.

Try reading the sentence aloud. Where do you pause?

Jigneshbharatiwhat is the grammatical form and function "but as" here?

"but as" is not a single phrase. The two main parts of the sentence are:

"Everyone has told a lie at one point"
"as it contradicts something we know to be true, lies are always exposed, revealing the truth beneath them"

"but" is a conjunction joining these. "as" means "because".

"it" does not agree with "lies", which is a fault in the sentence.

CalifJim · Answer

Jigneshbharaticommas

Everyone has told a lie at one point,₁ but as it contradicts something we know to be true,₂ lies are always exposed,₃ revealing the truth beneath them.

1) The comma together with the coordinating conjunction but separates two independent clauses, each with an explicitly stated subject (everyone, lies).

2) The comma separates the subordinate clause beginning with as from the following clause.

3) The comma sets off a non-restrictive participle clause analogous to a non-restrictive relative clause with which: which reveals the truth beneath them.

The subject of the participle clause is implicitly something like "the fact that lies are always exposed" because the clause is non-restrictive, i.e., it doesn't relate directly to any preceding noun but to the preceding proposition as a whole. Actually, GPY's "exposure of lies" may be a more accurate way of paraphrasing the subject of that participle clause.

CJ

But as

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