Grammarchips (#6)

        face5  One of our readers asked us to explain what the words still, but and yet mean. 

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WARNING! face6

As you read the story below, you will suddenly hit a place that feels like something is missing. Without words like still, but, or, yet reading is like driving on a road full of holeso [The wheel of the car is in a hole.]   



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POPPINS is just a cat, it is true. o he is very brave for he attacks shadows. You laugh? That means you’ve never attacked a shadow. o this is not all. Poppins is also wise. He sits very still before attacking, to first see what is in the shadow. Shadows are homes where imaginary [not real] things live. Imaginary things are sometimes pleasant, o usually unpleasant. o Poppins attacked both—especially shadows inside bags. The bottoms of bags are dark and scary. Bags make awful noises. bags can hold almost anything! 

     One day Poppins found a house inside his favorite paper bag. He went into the first room of the house and it was spring. The birds were singing. o when Poppins went into the second room, it was summer! People were smiling and watching a parade. Poppins went into the third room of the house and it was autumn. The world was full of color. It was a gift to be alive. o when Poppins came to the fourth room he met an awful surprise. The door was open. He could see someone sitting in a chair. This was not a shadow, o a real person. Poppins was brave, o he was not that brave. He watched the person. The person turned and said, “Poppins, come out of that bag!” Poppins didn’t want to, o Poppins obeyed. o it was a good, if short, adventure for a cold, winter day.  //   

              face1Now, here’s a simple rule:

The words “still,” “but,” and “yet” are words used to join two contrasting [opposite] things.  (Example: Poppins didn’t want to, but Poppins obeyed.) The only difference between these three words is their strength:

     “still” is gentle
     “but” is stronger
     “yet” is the strongest


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PLEASE NOTE!  

The words however and nevertheless are also used to join 2 contrasting things. These two words are simply more formal.

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NOW READ THE STORY AGAIN. face4


POPPINS is just a cat, it is true. Still, he is very brave for he attacks shadows. You laugh? That means you’ve never attacked a shadow. And this is not all. Poppins is also wise. He sits very still before attacking, to first see what is in the shadow. Shadows are homes where imaginary [not real] things live. Imaginary things are sometimes pleasant, but usually unpleasant. Yet, Poppins attacked both—especially shadows inside bags. The bottoms of bags are dark and scary. Bags make awful noises. And bags can hold almost anything! 

     One day Poppins found a house inside his favorite paper bag. He went into the first room of the house and it was spring. The birds were singing.  But when Poppins went into the second room, it was summer! People were smiling and watching a parade. Then Poppins went into the third room of the house and it was autumn. The world was full of color. It was a gift to be alive. But when Poppins came to the fourth room he met an awful surprise. The door was open. He could see someone sitting in a chair. This was not a shadow, but a real person. Poppins was brave, yet he was not that brave. He watched the person. The person turned and said, “Poppins, come out of that bag!” Poppins didn’t want to, but Poppins obeyed. Still, it was a good, if short, adventure for a cold, winter day.  

 ©InterestEng. July 2013 - April 2022 §  The stories in the magazine portion of the site are written by English language learners. Stories are corrected by a native English speaker.  § Photos are staff photos or used with permission.  §  To contact us:  go.gently.on@gmail.com