Teaching page · Grade 2 · Lesson 19

Join with BUT

BUT joins two ideas that pull against each other.

What it is

And joins two things that go along together. But joins two things that go AGAINST each other — when the second part is a surprise after the first. Choosing the right joining word tells your reader how to feel about the second part before they even read it.

Watch it built

1
Two sentences, and the second one is a surprise.
We watered it. It did not grow.
2
Ask: does the second go ALONG WITH the first, or AGAINST it?
Against — we expected it to grow.
3
Against means but.
We watered it but it did not grow.

One more

He studied hard. He forgot one answer.
↓
He studied hard but he forgot one answer.
Remember
Goes along with it: and. Goes against it: but.
Ask yourself: “Do my two halves disagree?”

Remember

But — the idea turns.

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