“demo・kedo・ga”: Three Ways to Say ‘But' [JLPT N5]

By Nihongo to Japan · Updated July 3, 2026

「高いけど買う」「でも、行きたい」「先生ですが…」 — adversative expressions organized by situation.

“demo・kedo・ga”: Three Ways to Say ‘But'

These three all express the adversative ‘but, although 〜 yet,' but differ in position, register: でも = ‘but' (a conjunction at the sentence head, more colloquial: 疲れた。でも、頑張る); けど(けれど/けれども) = ‘but, although' (connecting clauses mid-sentence, colloquial: 高いけど、買う); が = ‘but' (connecting mid-sentence, more written, formal: 努力したが、結果が出なかった). ⚠️ Core: でも at the sentence head (colloquial); けど mid-sentence (colloquial); が mid-sentence (written, formal). ⚠️ 「〜が/けど」 can also be a preface (an indirect opener): 田中ですが、少しよろしいでしょうか (I'm Tanaka, may I have a moment?).

🧠 Core nuance: adversative, differing in position (head/mid) and register (colloquial/written)

The core is all three express the adversative ‘but,' differing in position and register: ① でも — a conjunction at the sentence head ‘but' (picking up the prior clause, a turn, more colloquial, casual: 疲れた。でも、最後まで頑張る); ② けど(けれど/けれども) — connecting clauses mid-sentence ‘but, although … yet' (colloquial: この映画は長いけど、面白い; けれども more polite, けど most casual); ③ が — connecting mid-sentence ‘but' (more written, formal, dignified: 努力したが、結果が出なかった). ⚠️ Core contrast: position: でも (head) vs けど/が (mid); register: でも/けど (colloquial) vs が (written, formal). ⚠️ Politeness: けど (most casual) < けれど < けれども < が (most formal, written). ⚠️ Extension: 「〜が/けど」 can also be a 'preface' (an indirect opener, not necessarily truly adversative): すみませんが、… (excuse me, …), 田中ですけど、… (I'm Tanaka, …), used to soften the tone and lead into the main point. ⚠️ There's also the adversative conjunction しかし (more written, stronger). The foundation of N5 adversative expression.

📌 The Three Compared

💬 Example Sentences

• 疲れた。でも、最後まで頑張る。(I'm tired. But I'll keep going to the end.) — でも (head, colloquial)
• この映画は長いけど、とても面白いです。(This movie is long, but very interesting.) — けど (mid, colloquial)
• 一生懸命努力したが、結果が出なかった。(I worked hard, but no result came.) — が (mid, written)
• すみませんが、少しよろしいでしょうか?(Excuse me, may I have a moment?) — が (preface, indirect)
• 田中ですけど、社長はいらっしゃいますか?(I'm Tanaka — is the president in?) — けど (preface)

🔄 Compare: でも vs けど vs が vs しかし

⚠️ Common Mistakes

1. Different positions: でも at the sentence head (でも、〜); けど/が connecting clauses mid-sentence (〜けど〜/〜が〜).
2. Register: でも/けど colloquial; が more written, formal; business/writing use が, everyday use でも/けど.
3. Preface use: 〜が/けど can be an indirect opener (すみませんが、…), not necessarily truly adversative.
4. Politeness: けど (most casual) < けれど < けれども < が (most formal).

💡 Nuance & When to Use

The three adversatives: でも (a conjunction at the head, colloquial: でも頑張る), けど (connecting mid-sentence, colloquial: 長いけど面白い), が (connecting mid-sentence, more written, formal: 努力したが失敗). ⚠️ Position: でも head, けど/が mid; register: でも/けど colloquial, が written formal. Extension: 〜が/けど can be an indirect preface (すみませんが). Also distinguish from the head-written しかし. The foundation of N5 adversative expression. A must.

🎯 JLPT Exam Tips

• N5 core: でも (head, colloquial), けど (mid, colloquial), が (mid, written formal); all express the adversative ‘but.'
• Core distinction: position (でも head vs けど/が mid), register (でも/けど colloquial vs が written formal).
• Extension: 〜が/けど can be an indirect preface (すみませんが); politeness けど<けれど<けれども<が.

🖊️ Practice Quiz

Q1. 「疲れた。___、頑張る。」(sentence-initial adversative, colloquial) Which is correct?

(A) が　(B) のに　(C) でも　(D) ので

Q2. 「この映画は長い___、面白いです。」(mid-sentence adversative, colloquial) Which is correct?

(A) でも　(B) けど　(C) が　(D) のに

Q3. 「努力した___、結果が出なかった。」(written, polite adversative) Which is correct?

(A) けど　(B) でも　(C) が　(D) のに

Q4. 「田中です___、少しよろしいでしょうか？」(a softening preface, polite) Which is correct?

(A) けど　(B) でも　(C) が　(D) のに

Q5. Which correctly describes the register of でも・けど・が?

(A) でも is written, が is colloquial

(B) けど is the most polite, が is colloquial

(C) が is written/polite, けど is colloquial, でも is a sentence-initial conjunction

(D) all three are identical in meaning and use

Answer Key

1. (C) でも ── the sentence-initial conjunction that turns the talk around (after 疲れた) is 「でも」. が is a mid-sentence conjunctive particle (can't start a sentence); のに needs an emotion (dissatisfaction).

2. (B) けど ── mid-sentence, colloquial adversative uses けど: 長いけど面白い.

3. (C) が ── written, polite adversative uses が: 努力したが結果が出なかった.

4. (C) が ── as a softening preface (introducing a request), 「〜が」 is used: 田中ですが、…

5. (C) ── が is written/polite, けど is colloquial, でも is a sentence-initial conjunction.