The best we could find

[Xing]

This book is not good, but it was the best we could find.

Or, alternatively:

This book is not good, but is better than all the others we could find.

Wakeu

Kuo atai taima teli, e kuo atai kongo leika e atai kia.
[ˈkuːo aˈtai̯ ˈtai̯ma ˈteːli e ˈkuːo aˈtai̯ ˈkoːŋo e aˈtai̯ ˈkiːa]
NEG good DEM book BUT NEG good other PL.find AND good 3s

[Omzinesý]

Vtain:

Books aren't very common in Vtain speaking culture. There are pieces of bark that are used as letters. I use the word hähiena instead.

Traxa hähiena fti säkima – ske-hähien-ta-pru säkimpi kuna juhn-o
trax-a h-<ä>hien-a fti-i s<ä>kim-a - ske-h-<ä>hien-SGa-pru s<ä>kim-SG-i kun-a ï-uhn-o
this-SPEC.ABS ø-<DER>piece_of_bark-SPEC.ABS NEG.COP-PRS <V>appropriateness-IRR - other-ø-<DER>piece_of_bark-SPEC.PL.DAT-but <V>appropriateness-INTENS-PRS we-SPEC.ABS ANTIP-find-AOR

The noun 'appropriateness' is verbalized 'to be appropriate' and then intensified 'be more appropriate'.

The syntax of this clause is very complicated.
This book doesn't be.good - but [compared to the other books] is.better [we found]

The words in brackets are of the same phrase because the first one is in the dative and the other one - being in antipassive - takes an argument in the dative.

[Jackk]

Monenš

d’ourutson klēr hin, se lō hil šent sēu-mon i po-sauliō nuš.
/də ouˈʀutson ˈkleːʀ hin | se ˈloː hil ˈʃənt ˈseːu mon i ˌpo sauˈlioː nuʃ/
[doːˈʀut͡sən ˈklɛːʀ‿ɪn | ˌse ˈloːjl ʃənˈt͡sɛːwmən ɪ ˌpozawˈʎɔː nʊʃ]
NEG-useful book this but best 3s.NOM from thing-COLL SUBD ABIL-find 1p.NOM
This book isn’t good, but it was the best we could find.

[Chagen]

Heocg:

Nemiur stų bṛ yu-kriyas, rom kriyirosas stibhuh wibhoy sǫððyog.
book-GEN.SG DEM-NOM.SG be NEG=good but good-SUPER.NOM.SG DEM-.DAT.PL REL-ACC.PL find-POT.PST

Lit. "This book is not-good, but the best in regards to those which we could find".

[Plusquamperfekt]

Miwonša

Čwonaša žai šei, nač šešului ak čwoni šanwik šuli ayačafjam.
Book-DET-NOM.SG not good.ADV - but good-SLTV of book-PL all-GEN.PL which-ACC.PL find<PAST>-1PL.PFV

[Dormouse559]

ʻAlla ingiry ainnam wely, na(mme) welynek a mii hvʻnvk wi amjvv thujnok oon.
[ˈʔalla ˈiŋgiˌry ˈai̯nnam ˈwɛly ˈnammɛ ˈwɛlyˌnɛk a miː ˈhɯʔnɯk wi ˈamjɯː ˈtʰujnɔk ˈɔːn]
IND.NEG book DET-INDEF.SPEC good CNJ(-however) goodness-DEF IND 1PL PFV-find REL that other-DEF [GNO]exceed.
This book isn’t good, but it is better than all the others we could find.

This language's basic conjunctions don't directly translate as "and" and "but". Instead they agree with the polarity of the connected clauses. "Na", the conjunction used here, means that the linked clauses have opposite polarity. To indicate contrast, it's possible to add the suffix "-mme", but in terms of usage, it patterns most closely with "however" and similar adverbs.

[Plusquamperfekt]

Miwonša

Čwonaša žai šei, nač šešului ak čwoni šanwik šuli ayačafjam.
Book-DET-NOM.SG not good.ADV - but good-SLTV of book-PL all-GEN.PL which-ACC.PL find<PAST>-1PL.PFV

Oh I forgot the word "could":
Čwonaša žai šei, nač šešului ak čwoni šanwik šuli sayaljam ačafiwa.
[can<PAST>-1PL.PFV find-INF]

[Lao Kou]

Géarthnuns

Ví gefröfs hengef la zçalíkfoshköf nöi, arkfö síl lé chí zçalíkfoshköls bvansírel, chílít trízh lé ba zvaun kalokh sho, nöi.
[vi gɛˈfɾøfs ˈhɛŋɛf la ˌʑaliˈkfoʃkøf ˌnøj, aɾˈkfø sil ˈle tʃi ˌʑaliˈkfoʃkøls bvɑ̃ˈsiɾɛl, ˈtʃilit ˈtɾiʒ le ba ˈzvɔn kaˈlox ʃo, ˈnøj]
DEF.NEG book.NOM.NEG this-NOM.NEG AUX.PRES good-NOM.NEG be, but 3SG-NOM AUX.PAST DEF good.one-NOM most-NOM, REL-ACC 1DUAL-NOM AUX.PAST PTCL find be.able PTCL, be
This book is not good, but it was the best we could find.

Or, alternatively:

Ví gefröfs hengef la zçalíkfoshköf nöi, arkfö síl la zçalíkfoshköl íe chík ftelölsíd fanfelíd íe, chílích trízh lé híau ba zvaun kalokh sho, nöi.
[vi gɛˈfɾøfs ˈhɛŋɛf la ˌʑaliˈkfoʃkøf ˌnøj, aɾˈkfø sil ˈla ˌʑaliˈkfoʃkøl jɛ tʃik ftɛˈlølsid fanˈfɛlid jɛ, ˈtʃilitʃ ˈtɾiʒ le ˈhjɔ ba ˈzvɔn kaˈlox ʃo, ˈnøj]
DEF.NEG book-NOM.NEG this-NOM.NEG AUX.PRES good-NOM.NEG be, but 3SG-NOM AUX.PRES good-NOM more DEF.PL other-POST.PL all-POST.PL than, REL-ACC.PL 1DUAL-NOM AUX.PRES all-ADV PTCL find be.able PTCL, be
This book is not good, but is better than all the others we could find.

[DesEsseintes]

Not an exact translation:

Nınuıntı

Gıım nıın paracul cuııt, lıı cuııt gara tu paracura hıuuagın naurata.
[ŋiːm niːn pɐɾɐgʊl kwiːt̚ ʎiː kwiːt̚ ŋɐɾɐ tʊ pɐɾɐgʊɾɐ çowːɐŋɪn noɾɐdɐ]
NEG.COP DEM book good but=3sn good beyond DEM book-PL come.together-1p on=3pn
This book is not good, but it's better than the other books we found.

[Iyionaku]

Changing the last part of the second sentence: "that we could find" --> "that we have found"

German

Dieses Buch ist nicht gut...
[diːzɛs buχ ʔɪst nɪçt gut]
DEM.PROX.NEUT.NOM book.NOM be.3SG not good

...aber es ist das beste, das wir finden konnten.
[ˈʔabɐ ʔɛs ʔɪst das ˈbɛstʰə das viɐ̯ ˈfɪndən kʰɔntʰən]
but 3SG.NEUT be.3SG DEF.NEUT.ACC good.SUP.MASC.ACC, REL.NEUT 1PL.NOM find.INF can.PRET.1PL

...aber es ist besser als alle anderen, die wir gefunden haben.
[ˈʔabɐ ʔɛs ʔɪst ˈbɛsɐ ʔals ˈʔalə ˈʔandəʁɛn, diː viɐ̯ gəˈfʊndən ˈhabən]
but 3SG.NEUT be.3SG good.COMP than all.PL other.PL.NOM, REL.PL 1PL.NOM find.PP have.1PL

French

Ce livre n'est pas bon...
[sə ˈliːvʁə nɛ pa bɔ̃]
DEM.PROX.MASC book PART-be.3SG NEG good.MASC

...mais il est le meilleur de tous que nous pourrions trouver.
[mæ ɪl ɛ lə mɛjøʁ də tu nu kə puʁiˈɔ̃ tʁuˈve]
but 3SG.MASC be.3SG DEF.MASC good.SUP of all REL 1PL can.IMP.1PL find.INF

...mais il est meilleur que tout les autres que nous avons trouvé.
[mæ ɪl ɛ mɛjøʁ kə tu lɛ‿zotʁə kə nu‿zavɔ̃ tʁuˈve]
but 3SG.MASC be.3SG good.COMP than all DEF.PL other.PL REL 1PL have.1PL find.PP

Yélian

Vat riur cifaibut...
[vɐt ri.ʊɾ kiˈɸaɪ̯bʊt]
DEM book NEG-good-be.3SG_INAN

...cut yiafirtèbut vit ren yityasandest.
[kʊt ʃiaˈɸɪɾtɛbʊt vɪt rɛn ʃit͡ʃaˈsandɛst]
but PST-SUP-good.COMP-è-be.3SG_INAN REL 1PLEX PST-ABL-find-1PLEX

...cut yifirtèbut riuró vit ren yisandest.
[kʊt ʃiˈɸɪɾtɛbʊt riʊˈɾoː vɪt rɛn ʃiˈsandɛst]
but PST-good.COMP-è-be.3SG_INAN book.COL REL 1PLEX PST-find-1PLEX

Caelian

Dyot losgyed kë firnait bui...
[dʲɔt lɔʃˈgʲɛd kʰə βɪɾˈnaɪ̯t bʊɪ̯]
DEM.NOM book NEG good be.3SG>INTR

...kyët Tot firulnait ës byäis loisügyored, tö Zen siburergirnas.
[kʲət tʰɔt βɪɾʊlˈnaɪ̯t əʃ bʲæɪ̯ʃ lɔɪ̯ʃygʲɔˈrɛd, tʰø zɛn ʃiburɛɾˈgɪɾnaʃ]
but 3SG_MASC good.SUP COMP be.3SG>3SG book.COL.EQU, REL 1PLEX PST-find.1PLEX>3SG-ABL

...kyët Tot firnait ës byäis, pyëlalorer tö Zen siburergir.
[kʲət tʰɔt βɪɾˈnaɪ̯t əʃ bʲæɪ̯ʃ, pʲəlalɔˈrɛɾ tø zɛn ʃiburɛɾˈgɪɾ]
but 3SG_MASC good COMP be.3SG>3SG, other.PL.EQU REL 1PLEX PST-find.1PLEX>3SG

Utseech

Dees bul i diken gwen...
[deːs bʊl i ˈdɪkən gʷɛn]
DEM.PROX.NEUT book be.3SG not good

Ava as wa de beech welkes wir nôneth fijdech.
[ˈɑvɐ ɑs wa dɛ beːç ˈwɛɬkʰɛs wir nɔ˞nɛt fiːdɛç]
but 3SG_NEUT be.PRET.3SG DEF best that.NEUT 1PL ca.PRET.1PL find.INF

Ava as i bea als ank âdeech welk wir havech gefûdech.
[ˈɑvɐ ɑs i ˈbea ɑls ɑŋk ˈɚdeːç wɛɬk wir ˈhavɛç gəˈfu˞dɛç]
but 3SG_NEUT be.3SG good.COMP than all other that.PL 1PL have.1PL find.PP

Anto

Lesne he bam kul...
[ˈlɛsnɛ hɛ pam kʰul]
book DEM.PROX NEG good

...aba ton kulsa fon tja finde kan ta.
[ˈapa tʰɔn ˈkʰulsa fɔn ca ˈfɪntɛ kʰan tʰa]
but 3 good.SUP of_DET 1PL find ABL(-)1PL

... aba ton kul'a de gejwe je gemi tja findefin ta.
[ˈapa tʰɔn ˈkʰula tɛ kɛɪ̯wɛ jɛ ˈkɛmi ca ˈfɪntɛfɪn tʰa]
but 3 good.COMP PART1 other all compared_to 1PL find-PST 1PL

[Iyionaku]

Bath'aso

Zar shus pezepxim jat...
[zaɾ ʂus ˈpɛzɛpxim jat]
NEG be.good book-disrespecting.ABS DEM.PROX

...tzorn tshun pezepansh, khek tjetsh shexprizh batħaz.
[tzɔrn ͡tʂun ˈpɛzɛpanʂ, kʰɛk tʲɛtʂ ʂɛxˈpriʐ ˈbatˤaz]
but be_good.COMP book-by_all.ABS, PERF ABL find 1PL.ERG

...tzorn tshun pezepnaz mas gromptshxumktu grotshtu, khek shexprizhapz.
[tzɔrn ͡tʂun ˈpezepnaz mas ˈgʁɔmptxum͡k̟tu gʁɔtʂtu, kʰɛk ˈʂɛxpriʐapz̥]
but be_good.COMP book-regarding.ABS than book-disrespecting-ABS-PL other-PL, PERF find-1PL.ERG

Elfish

नो थोसे नैरि ओज़्मे फऌ...
Nē thēse nayri ēsme phal…
NEG.3SG_MASC DEM.MASC.NOM book.NOM be.INF good

...जू युवो ओज़, थे वौ ओयेण मिरू ध्रूपेमे, मे ओतुड़.
…jū yuwē ēs, the wey ēyen mirū dhrūpeme, me ētur.
but 3SG_MASC be.3SG_MASC, REL.MASC.INAN.NOM 1PL have.1PL be_able.PP find.INF, DEF.MASC.NOM good.SUP.NOM

जू युवो ओज़, थे वौ तेऌपण ध्रिपू, ओसुड़ खै योनुनि.
…jū yuwē ēs, the wey telpan dhripū, ēsur khay yēnunī.
but 3SG_MASC be.3SG_MASC, REL.MASC.INAN.NOM 1PL get.1PL find.PP, good.MASC.COMP than other.COL

[Lao Kou]

Japoné語

Ce 本 oué, il ga dja naille pas 良i, mais c'été le plus 良i qu'au on ga 得yeau 見付quèrë.
Ce hon oué, il ga dja naille pas yaui, mais c'été le plus yaui qu'au on ga éyeau mitsouquèrë.
[sœ̈ ɒ̃ʊ̯̃ we, i gɔ dʒɔ næj pɔ joj, me setel plʏ joj ko õʊ̃ gɔ eˈjoʊ̯ mɪtsʊˈkæɛ̯ʁœ̈]
this.m book.m TOP, 3SG.m SUBJ ADV not.be NEG good.m, but 3SG.n be-PAST DEF.m most good.m REL OBJ 1PL SUBJ be.able-SUB find
This book is not good, but it was the best we could find.

Or, alternatively:

Ce 本 oué, il ga dja naille pas 良i, mais c'est plus 良i que tout les autre qu'au on ga 得ta 見付quèrë.
Ce hon oué, il ga dja naille pas yaui, mais c'est plus yaui que tout les autre qu'au on ga éta mitsouquèrë.
[sœ̈ ɒ̃ʊ̯̃ we, i gɔ dʒɔ næj pɔ joj, me se plʏ joj kœ̈ tu lez oʊ̯t ko õʊ̃ gɔ ˈetɔ mɪtsʊˈkæɛ̯ʁœ̈]
this.m book.m TOP, 3SG.m SUBJ ADV not.be NEG good.m, but 3SG.n be-PRES more good.m than all.m DEF.PL other REL OBJ 1PL SUBJ be.able-PAST find
This book is not good, but is better than all the others we could find.

[Dormouse559]

Ce livre n'est pas bon...
[sə ˈliːvʁə nɛ pa bɔ̃]

...mais il est le meilleur de tous que nous avons/ayons pu trouver.
[me il ɛ lə mɛjøʁ kə nu‿zavɔ̃/zɛjɔ̃ py tʁuˈve]

"Pourrions" is the conditional form. The imperfect is "pouvions". However, I think the passé composé makes more sense here because it implies not only that an action was possible, but that it was carried out.

...mais il est meilleur que tous les autres que nous avons trouvés.
[me il ɛ mɛjøʁ kə tu le‿zotʁə kə nu‿zavɔ̃ tʁuˈve]

Like in the first version, you could say "que nous avons pu trouver". But the subjunctive isn't an option.

[Xing]

Mīrna

Līya cilpa nīr zīla, pār tā zīla cumka cipla nīr.
PROX book NEG good but 3 good other book NEG
[liːʝɔ ʦɪlpɔ nɪːr ziːlɔ paːr taː ziːlɔ ʦʊmkɔ ʦɪlpɔ niːr]

[Batz]

Naguil

Angarba lien yta dimiel, feon tu dimiel ban iolimil san.
/aŋ'gaːrba 'li.ɛn 'ytʰa 'diːmjɛl | 'fɛ.ɔn tʰu 'diːmjɛl 'ban iɔ'liːmil san/
An-garb-a li-en y-ta dim-iel, fe-on tu dim-iel ban io-lim-il san-ø.
DEF.ART-book-NOM here-NOM NEG-COP.PRS good-LOC, hold-TMP COP.CVB good-LOC most 2PL-find-PST able-MOD.
The book here is not good, but is best we could find.

Angarba lien yta dimiel, feon tu erdimiel nu tergeis renias iolimil san.
/aŋ'gaːrba 'li.ɛn 'ytʰa 'diːmjɛl | 'fɛ.ɔn tʰu ɛr'diːmjɛl nu 'tʰɛrɣɛis 'renjas iɔ'liːmil san/
An-garb-a li-en y-ta dim-iel, fe-on tu er-dim-iel nu terg-eis ren-ias io-lim-il san-ø.
DEF.ART-book-NOM here-NOM NEG-COP.PRS good-LOC, hold-TMP COP.CVB COMP-good-LOC than all-ACC.PL other-ACC.PL 2PL-find-PST able-MOD.
The book here is not good, but is better than all others we could find.