Conjunctions link and create relationships between clauses. The coordinating adversative conjunctions show opposition between clauses. In this lesson we will focus on the commonly used conjunctions pero and sino; both of them mean "but". We will see the difference in usage.

Yo iba a invitar a María a ir a la fiesta pero ella no puede ir.
I was going to invite María to the party but she can't go.

María no habla sino que grita.
María doesn't speak, but yells.

Yo quise ir a la tienda pero Consuelo quiso ir al cine.
I wanted to go to the store but Consuelo wanted to go to the movies.

Ella no camina por las montañas sino que camina mucho por la ciudad.
She doesn't walk in the mountains but she walks a lot around town.

¡Pero... may also be used to add emphasis.

¡Pero qué niño tan bueno!
What a good boy!

[ view full lesson ]