[Grammar] What is the use of "but" in :-"None but the brave deserves the fair."?

[Sahil Dhankhar]

What is the use of "but" in :-"None but the brave deserves the fair."?

This is not my homework.

What is the use of "but" in :-"None but the brave deserves the fair."?
In my opinion, it is used as a conjunction as it connects two sentences:- None deserves the fair. + Brave deserves the fair.

Am I right ?
If not please correct me with detailed explanation, I will be thankful to you.

 

[MikeNewYork]

Re: What is the use of "but" in :-"None but the brave deserves the fair."?

No. "None but the brave" means "nobody other than the brave" or "only the brave". I am not sure what "the fair" means.

 

[Rover_KE]

Re: What is the use of "but" in :-"None but the brave deserves the fair."?

Here, 'but' = 'except'.

 

[TheParser]

Re: What is the use of "but" in :-"None but the brave deserves the fair."?

In my opinion, it is used as a conjunction.

***** NOT A TEACHER *****


Hello, Sahil Dhankhar:

Two teachers have already given you the answer. I am replying only to share some thoughts (not "answers").

*****

1. There are some books that agree with you. That is to say, "but" in that kind of sentence could be analyzed as a conjunction.

2. I will keep my opinion to myself.

3. I found one expert who feels that it is a preposition, not a conjunction in that kind of sentence. In his OPINION, it does not make sense to classify it as a conjunction.

I will now cite that expert's opinion. Every single word (including the word in parentheses) is his. The brackets [ ] mean that those are words that I added.


Is ["None but the brave deserves the fair"] to be expanded [changed] into None deserves the fair, but the brave deserves them (her)? How else expand the clause? And yet how can one believe that this expansion matches anything that Dryden had in mind?


Source: Wilson Follett, Modern American Usage (1980), page 94.

 

[Sahil Dhankhar]

Re: What is the use of "but" in :-"None but the brave deserves the fair."?

You are right that in this sentence, but~except.
Now please tell me what is the use of "but" in the sentence?
:-adverb
:-conjunction
reposition
ronoun

 

[Rover_KE]

Re: What is the use of "but" in :-"None but the brave deserves the fair."?

As you surmised in post #1, it's a conjunction.

 

[TheParser]

Re: What is the use of "but" in :-"None but the brave deserves the fair."?

It's a conjunction.

Dear Rover:

First, I apologize. When I read your answer in post #3, I assumed that you implied that "but" was construed as a preposition in that sentence. I have already edited out that implication in post #4.

Second, I am very confused.

a. Many books seem to say that "but" in that kind of sentence is either a conjunction or a preposition.

i. If one thinks that it is an elliptical sentence, then "but" is a conjunction (say those books).
ii. If one thinks that "but" governs the noun ("the brave"), then it is a preposition.

If this kind of sentence were on a test, would you accept either "preposition" or "conjunction" as the correct answer?



Thank you,



James

P.S. No "Not a Teacher" disclaimer. This is strictly a member's question.

 

[Rover_KE]

Re: What is the use of "but" in :-"None but the brave deserves the fair."?

I would accept either.