Cool MateBut vs Yet
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
But
High-frequency chunkA1conjunction
Yet
Top 1,000 (very common)A2adverb
| But | Yet | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/bət//bʌt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/bət//bʌt/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/jet/"]/🇺🇸 /["/jet/"]/ |
| Meaning | Used to show contrast or exception. | up to now; at this time |
| Example | I wanted to go, but it started to rain. | I haven't finished my homework yet. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | High-frequency chunk | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | A2 |
| Part of speech | conjunction | adverb |
| Collocations | but I thought, but what about, but still, but then, but also | not yet, yet to come, will you yet |
| Antonyms | and, or | already |
| Common mistakes | Confusing 'but' with 'and' when showing contrast., Starting a sentence with 'but' in very formal writing., Using a comma before 'but' when the clauses are very short. | Confused with 'but' in meaning., Omitting 'not' in negative sentences., Using 'yet' in statements instead of questions or negatives. |
| Usage notes | 'But' is used to connect two contrasting ideas. It’s appropriate in both spoken and written English but may sound abrupt in very formal writing. | Used to indicate that something has not happened up to the present moment. Common in negative sentences and questions. Avoid using in formal writing as it may sound too casual. |
Frequently asked questions: But vs Yet
What's the difference between But and Yet?
But: Used to show contrast or exception. Yet: up to now; at this time
Are But and Yet the same CEFR level?
But: A1, Yet: A2 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use But and Yet interchangeably?
Not always. But and Yet are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.