But Conjunctions
This page explains common conjunctions that all mean “but”.
でも and が
Quick Guide:
でも – Start of sentence. Contradicts statement or conclusion.
が – Links two sentences with “but”.
でも
でも goes at the start of a sentence, it is typically used to put a caveat on the previous sentence (yours or someone else’s). Can come across as rude (Never say to your boss).
でも cannot be used to link 2 clauses/sentences together into one sentence.
Examples
- でもそれはできない。 But we can’t do that.
- でも、かれはそれを知らなかった。ー But HE didn’t know that.
- いいアイデアだ。でもげんじつてきじゃない – That’s a good idea. However, it isn’t realistic.
が
が exclusively links two sentences/clauses. It follows adjectives, verbs, or だ・です. Nouns and な adjectives require だ・です before が。
Examples
- こうえんに行きたいが、あめがふっている。-(I) want to go to the park, but it’s raining.
- あそびたいが、いそがしい。(I) want to play, but I’m busy.
Occasionally, you’ll hear が at the beginning of a sentence. This just overrides the “period” of the previous sentence and links them.
- それはすばらしい！が、これからはどうする？- That’s great! …but what are you going to do from now?
けど, けれど, and けれども
Quick Guide
けど – Most commonly spoken, links sentences, can end a sentence to soften it.
けれど – Most often only written. Same meaning.
けれども – Most formal. Spoken and written.
けど、けれど、and けれども also mean but, and are technically the same word, but:
- けど usually goes at the end of a sentence to link it to another, like が. The latter sentence can be omitted to imply a conclusion to “soften” the sentence. This is spoken a lot.
- けれど has the same meaning, but is usually only written.
- けれども is more formal, and can be spoken or written.
All of these words may go at the start of a sentence, end of a sentence, or between sentences to link them.
Source
Examples
- 昨日買うといったけど。。I said I would buy it yesterday but..(I’m not going to).
- けどこれからどうする – But what are we going to do now.
- かったけど、みせにわすれた – I bought it, but I forgot it at the store.