But / Though: が / けど

Learn how が and けど connect contrasting ideas and soften statements in natural conversation.

Use が and けど to connect contrasting or incomplete statements.Recognize sentence-ending が and けど as softeners.Choose register-appropriate forms such as ですが, けど, and けれども.

Guided study

Core idea

が and けど both mean 'but' or 'though.' They connect two ideas, but they can also soften the first statement when the second part is left unstated.

この店は高いですが、おいしいです。

This restaurant is expensive, but it is delicious.

ですが sounds more formal than けど.

行きたいけど、時間がありません。

I want to go, but I don't have time.

けど is common in everyday spoken contrast.

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