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Example sentences of "but [vb mod] [verb] [be] [adj] " in BNC.

No	Sentence
1	China may not have been unsympathetic towards the neutralisation of the region , but may have been doubtful about her capacity to act as a guarantor of such a regime .
2	Hyperodapedon and other rhynchosaurs had a barrel-shaped body to accommodate a large gut for the slow digestion of plant material ; they could not grind up plant food with their teeth , but may have been able to ‘ ruminate ’ , like a modern cow .
3	The conductor William Llewellyn may well have had a few sleepless nights but must have been proud of his singers .
4	The miners probably resented the intrusion but must have been fearful of the possible consequences of this calamity .
5	The ‘ 116 was a most elegant machine , but must have been underpowered with its 240hp Hirth engines .
6	There were also remnants of late bluebells which were well past their best but must have been magnificent in spring .
7	Many observers believe that this outcome would not have happened if BA had not been privatised as such a dominant carrier in the UK , but others argue that this claim is irrelevant and that world competition is what matters ; BA and BCal were both relatively small on the world stage , but might have been able to compete effectively in a merged form .
8	However , the position would have been different if the nodes had been defective and caused damage or injury to the buyer : the seller would then have been open to a claim in tort , or perhaps under the Consumer Protection Act 1987 , but would have been unprotected by any exclusion , limitation or indemnity clauses .
9	It is too small to have been used for storage or drying , but would have been suitable for the mistress of the house to sit at her small wheel to spin .
10	If the plaintiff had not paid he would not only have been subject to legal proceedings for recovery of the tax but would have been liable to forfeiture of his business until it had been paid .