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NL888 Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

I don't understand why the word "but" is used here

0Context:02br
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00 "I'm only 49 years old and this isn't supposed to happen to me," Henry says.02br
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00 It's not supposed to be this hard to walk either. 02br
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01b01font00"My knee is weak, but I have what they call foot drop," Henry explains.02font02b02br
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00Small steps are a struggle that leave her dizzy and breathless. But a new electrical stimulation device is helping. Electrodes are attached to Henry's leg, then the leg piece is wrapped around. A wireless handheld device sends mini shocks through the leg muscles. 01h2

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00==02br
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00 If one had foot drop, then the one's knee is weak anyway. So if Henry said "my knee is weak, 01b00because02b00 I have what they call foot drop," I will get her well. But she used "but" there...02br
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00 What on earth the but means there? 02br
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00 For example:02br
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00 My mouth is very dry, because I in the house have no water to drink.02br
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00 Can you say " my mouth is very dry, but I in the house have no water to drink?"0-
  

Top answer

0You said: "If one had foot drop, then the one's knee is weak anyway"02br 02br 00That is not correct and that's what is creating problems for your understanding. 02br 02br 00Drop foot is not the same as a weak knee. 02font 02b 0-

  • 0You said: "If one had foot drop, then the one's knee is weak anyway"02br 02br 00That is not correct and that's what is creating problems for your understanding.
  • 02br 02br 00Drop foot is not the same as a weak knee.
  • 02font 02b 0-
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5 Answers
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0You said: "If one had foot drop, then the one's knee is weak anyway"02br
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00That is not correct and that's what is creating problems for your understanding. 02br
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00Drop foot is not the same as a weak knee. 02br
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00His meaning is:02br
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01b01font00My knee is weak, (an
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0 Thanks.02br
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00 Native English speakers reconfirm this please.0-
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0"But" can be used in a lot of different ways. I've tried to come up with an explanation, but I realize explaining the usage of "but" is not easy at all. I am not an expert on knees or anything, but I can only say that in the first example, "My knee is weak, but I have...", I think that "but" is used to give more importance to the second part of the sentence. The weak knee is not the point, I am
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0I think Kooyeen's explanation is right on.02br
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00As a reply to an obstinate orthopedic physician, I'd use, "I 01b01i01u00know02u02i02b00 my knee is weak. But I have etc." (Been there. Done that.)0-
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0 Thank you both.02br
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00 Kooyeen, why is your English so good since you are, if I guess it rightly, an Italian?0-

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