How do you use "but for / if it weren't for" in a sentence?

But for the traffic, we would have arrived on time. If it weren't for you, I'd be lost. But for his quick thinking, there would have been an accident. If it hadn't been for the rain, we'd have gone out.

but for / if it weren't for

Q: What does "but for / if it weren't for" mean?

Expressing what would be different without something 'But for' and 'if it weren't for' express that one thing prevents another outcome. 'But for your help, I would have failed' = without your help, I would have failed. Formal and emphatic.

Grammar Pattern BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★☆☆ Moderate Formal

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Significado: Expressing what would be different without something

表达没有某事物情况会有什么不同

Expresar qué sería diferente sin algo

何かがなければ何が違っていたかを表現する

무언가가 없었다면 무엇이 달라졌을지 표현하기

'But for' and 'if it weren't for' express that one thing prevents another outcome. 'But for your help, I would have failed' = without your help, I would have failed. Formal and emphatic.

'But for'和'if it weren't for'表达一件事阻止了另一个结果。'But for your help, I would have failed' = 没有你的帮助，我就失败了。正式且强调。

'But for' e 'if it weren't for' expresan que una cosa previene otro resultado. 'But for your help, I would have failed' = sin tu ayuda, habría fracasado. Formal y enfático.

「But for」と「if it weren't for」は、一つの事柄が別の結果を防いでいることを表現します。「But for your help, I would have failed」= あなたの助けがなければ、私は失敗していたでしょう。フォーマルで強調的です。

'But for'와 'if it weren't for'는 한 가지가 다른 결과를 막았음을 표현한다. 'But for your help, I would have failed' = 당신의 도움이 없었다면 실패했을 것이다. 격식적이고 강조적인 표현이다.

Ejemplos

But for the traffic, we would have arrived on time.
要不是交通堵塞，我们就准时到了。
De no ser por el tráfico, habríamos llegado a tiempo.
交通渋滞がなければ、時間通りに着いていたでしょう。
교통 체증이 없었다면 제시간에 도착했을 것이다.
If it weren't for you, I'd be lost.
要不是你，我就迷路了。
Si no fuera por ti, estaría perdido.
あなたがいなければ、私は迷っていたでしょう。
당신이 아니었다면 나는 길을 잃었을 것이다.
But for his quick thinking, there would have been an accident.
要不是他反应快，就会出事故了。
De no ser por su rápida reacción, habría habido un accidente.
彼の素早い判断がなければ、事故が起きていたでしょう。
그의 재빠른 판단이 없었다면 사고가 났을 것이다.
If it hadn't been for the rain, we'd have gone out.
要不是下雨，我们就出门了。
Si no hubiera sido por la lluvia, habríamos salido.
雨がなければ、外出していたでしょう。
비가 오지 않았다면 외출했을 것이다.

Pronunciación

Guía de uso

Contexto: written, formal, literary

Tono: counterfactual

✓ Correcto

But for her support, I couldn't have succeeded.
多亏她的支持，我才能成功。
De no ser por su apoyo, no habría podido tener éxito.
彼女のサポートがなければ、成功できなかったでしょう。
그녀의 도움이 아니었다면, 성공하지 못했을 것이다.
If it weren't for the cost, I'd buy it.
要不是价格太贵，我就买了。
Si no fuera por el costo, lo compraría.
コストがなければ、買っていたでしょう。
비용만 아니라면, 샀을 텐데.
But for one small mistake, it would have been perfect.
要不是一个小错误，本来就完美了。
De no ser por un pequeño error, habría sido perfecto.
一つの小さなミスがなければ、完璧だったでしょう。
작은 실수 하나만 아니었다면, 완벽했을 것이다.
If it hadn't been for the warning, we'd have crashed.
要不是那个警告，我们就撞车了。
Si no hubiera sido por la advertencia, habríamos chocado.
警告がなければ、衝突していたでしょう。
그 경고가 아니었다면, 충돌했을 것이다.
But for the traffic, we would have arrived on time.
要不是堵车，我们就能准时到了。
De no ser por el tráfico, habríamos llegado a tiempo.
渋滞がなければ、時間通りに着いていたでしょう。
교통 체증만 아니었다면, 제시간에 도착했을 것이다.
If it weren't for you...
要不是因为你……
Si no fuera por ti...
あなたがいなければ…
당신이 아니었다면…

✗ Incorrecto

But for the traffic, we arrived late. (need hypothetical result)
But for the traffic, we arrived late.（需要假设结果）
But for the traffic, we arrived late. (se necesita un resultado hipotético)
But for the traffic, we arrived late.（仮定の結果が必要）
But for the traffic, we arrived late.（가정의 결과가 필요）
If it wasn't for you... (formal: use 'weren't')
If it wasn't for you...（正式用语应用'weren't'）
If it wasn't for you... (en lenguaje formal, usar 'weren't')
If it wasn't for you...（フォーマルでは「weren't」を使う）
If it wasn't for you...（격식체에서는 'weren't'를 사용）

Origen e historia

Formal conditional expression

Contexto cultural

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

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wish / if only ★★★★☆ Expressing wishes about past, present, and future supposing / providing / as long as ★★★★☆ Alternative conditional conjunctions otherwise / or else ★★★★☆ Expressing negative consequences supposing / imagine / what if ★★★★☆ Introducing hypothetical scenarios if only + past tenses ★★★★☆ Expressing strong wishes and regrets Implied Conditionals ★★★★☆ Conditionals without explicit 'if' clause