[General] Hey guys, is this sentence incorrect?

[richuk]

Hey guys,

I have a quick question regarding a sentence I read the other day:

“I really like her but she is pretty”

Is this incorrect? I thought the statement after the word ‘but’ should contradict the statement before it. E.g.: ‘I really like her but she isn’t very pretty’.

Thank you for any help, I really appreciate it.

 

[SoothingDave]

Not a teacher.

The sentence does not make sense. Being "pretty" is not usually a contradiction to liking someone.

"I really like her, but she's got bad breath." makes more sense.

 

[emsr2d2]

I agree. It makes no sense to word it like that.

I really like her because she is pretty.

I really like her and she is pretty.

I really like her but she isn't pretty.

 

[BobK]

"But" isn't always (colloquially) adversative - 'God, but you're beautiful when you're angry'. This sort of "but" implies '[You're always attractive] but you're [really] beautiful when you're angry'. So, in colloquial cases, if punctuated, this would make sense: “I really like her... but she is pretty”.

b

PS Didn't the Joker, in The Dark Knight, say 'God, but I'm clever!'?

 

[Barb_D]

Maybe he has very low self-esteem.

I like her, but she's pretty (and therefore too good for someone like me).