[例句] Kirk cannot but sell his car.
[误译] 柯克不能卖东西,但可以卖他的汽车。
[原意] 柯克不得不卖掉他的汽车。
[说明] cannot but(后面接原形动词)意为“不得不”。cannot help [avoid, forbear](后面接动名词)也是这个意思(见该条)。若将can代替上例的cannot,即Kirk can but sell his car,句意不是“柯克可以卖东西,但不能卖掉他的汽车”,而是“柯克只能卖掉他的汽车”。can but = can only(只能)。