Study Card

English Language
Created 7 days ago

Instructions

From the words or groups of words lettered A to D, choose the one that best completes each of the following sentences.

I wouldn’t have married you …. for your humility.

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Answer

nevertheless

however

but

if not

Explanation

Verified
Correct Answer
C
but
I wouldn’t have married you but for your humility.
Why this is correct:
The conjunction “but” is used in the construction “but for” to mean “except for” or “if not for.” In this sentence, the speaker is saying that they would not have married the person addressed if it were not for that person’s humility. The conjunction “but” correctly completes the “but for” construction and conveys that the person’s humility was the sole reason for the speaker’s decision to marry them.
Why Other Options Are Incorrect
A
nevertheless
Why this is incorrect:
“Nevertheless” is used to introduce a statement that contrasts with or seems to contradict the previous statement. In this sentence, there is no contrasting statement, so “nevertheless” would be incorrect.
B
however
Why this is incorrect:
Like “nevertheless,” “however” is used to introduce a contrasting statement. In this sentence, there is no contrast, so “however” would be incorrect and would not convey the intended meaning.
D
if not
Why this is incorrect:
Although “if not” conveys a similar meaning to “but for,” it is not the conventional way to express this idea in English. The construction “but for” is more idiomatic and appropriate in this context.

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