だが・(です)が: More Buts (and Conjunctions)

Introduction

I can't tell you how excited I am about this lesson. This may be one of the greatest of all time, to be honest. In fact, I strongly feel that in a few years' time, people may be naming their kids after this lesson.

Okay, I may be blowing things out of proportion, but it is with great pleasure that I introduce you to...

Episode Four: A new but

Structure:

• 

  (だ・です)がsentence
  Example:
  → だが、マイクは違ちがいました。
  "Mike was wrong, however."

• 

  Clause 1(だ・です)がClause 2
  Example:
  → 正直しょうじきに言いいますが、よくないと思おもいます。
  ”To give you my honest opinion, I don't think it's good.”

This lesson's going to be all about using が to say 'but'! Don't get confused, this isn't the same が particle you all know and love, it's something completely different. We can also use it in conjunction with だ and です, although you have to be careful, as one of them sounds very stiff (and you might be surprised which of them it is). Without further ado, let's dive right in with が.