grammaticality - Correct usage of 'but for'?


Does 'but for' mean:


'If we had X (but we didn't), Y would have been the consequence'?


Or can it also mean; because we had X, as a result Y happened?


Some different examples of but for:


(Case 1)



But for a cup coffee, it was to be a productive day of writing. Unfortunately, I'd run out, and spent the day craving.



(Case 2)



But for the glass of wine I had dinner, the house work didn't get done.



(Case 3)



But for the glass of wine I had for dinner, I would have got the house work done



What is the correct usage of "but for"?



Answer



The preposition But for x be expanded as:



if x had not existed or if x had not happened



This makes but for the equivalent of the third (remote) conditional where the main clause contains the would have construction. On this basis your third case is correct:



But for (If I hadn't drunk) the glass of wine I had for dinner, I would have got the house work done.



A related sense of but for is with the exception of:



But for (with the exception of) the wine, everything about the meal was perfect.



Neither of the above senses of but for works in your case 1 and 2 sentences.


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