Up until now, every Japanese sentence we've built has been a standalone one-liner. But in real conversation, you constantly need to link ideas — "delicious but expensive," "difficult and interesting." This lesson covers two connectors that instantly upgrade your Japanese from "fragments" to "paragraphs."
が: Conjunction Particle Meaning "But"
が attaches directly after です or ます to express contrast — "... but ...":
〜ですが、〜です。 〜ますが、〜ます。
Basic Examples
| Japanese | English |
|---|---|
| おいしいですが、高いです。 | It's delicious, but expensive. |
| 日本語は難しいですが、面白いです。 | Japanese is difficult, but interesting. |
| きれいな人ですが、冷たいです。 | She's a beautiful person, but cold (unfriendly). |
Breaking down the first sentence:
- おいしいです → It's delicious (first clause)
- が → but (connector)
- 高いです → it's expensive (second clause)
が attaches directly to です / ます with no gap.
Classic Dialogue: How's Japanese Food?
A: 日本の食べ物はどうですか。 → How's the food in Japan? B: おいしいですが、高いです。 → It's delicious, but expensive.
This is one of the most common sentences you'll hear when chatting about Japan. The food really is great — but eating out is not cheap. A bowl of ramen easily costs over 1,000 yen.
Where が Goes: Always After the First Clause
| Structure | Context |
|---|---|
| A ですが、B です。 | Nouns / な-adjectives |
| A いですが、B いです。 | い-adjectives |
| A きますが、B きます。 | Verbs |
As long as the first clause ends with です or ます, you can attach が.
それに: Conjunction Meaning "Moreover / And Also"
それに is an independent conjunction (not a particle) placed between two sentences to mean "moreover" or "and also":
〜です。それに、〜です。
Unlike が, which expresses contrast (but), それに expresses addition (and also).
Basic Examples
| Japanese | English |
|---|---|
| きれいな人です。それに、親切です。 | She's a beautiful person. Moreover, she's kind. |
| 昨日11時まで働きました。それに、今日10時まで働きます。 | I worked until 11 yesterday. And today I'm working until 10. |
それに starts a new sentence. The previous sentence ends with a period first. It doesn't attach directly to です like が does.
が vs それに Comparison
| Connector | Meaning | How it connects | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| が | But | Attaches after です/ます | おいしいですが、高いです。 |
| それに | Moreover | Starts a new sentence | おいしいです。それに、安いです。 |
Same first clause ("it's delicious"), different second clauses:
- Delicious but expensive → おいしいですが、高いです。
- Delicious and cheap → おいしいです。それに、安いです。
Practical Usage
Describing a Person
A: あの人はどんな人ですか。 → What kind of person is that? B: きれいな人ですが、冷たいです。 → A beautiful person, but cold.
Or a positive description:
B: きれいな人です。それに、親切です。 → A beautiful person. And kind, too.
Talking About Studies
日本語は難しいですが、面白いです。 → Japanese is difficult, but interesting.
Everyday Complaints
昨日11時まで働きました。それに、今日10時まで働きます。 → I worked until 11 yesterday. And today I have to work until 10.
(The voice of the overworked.)
Summary
- が = but. Attaches directly after です/ます: おいしいですが、高いです
- それに = moreover / and also. Placed between two independent sentences, with a period before it
- が expresses contrast (opposite directions), それに expresses addition (same direction)
- These two connectors upgrade your Japanese from "one sentence at a time" to "logically connected thoughts"
Self-Check
Q1. Say "This book is interesting, but difficult" in Japanese.
Show answer
この本は面白いですが、難しいです。
面白い (interesting) + ですが (but) + 難しい (difficult) + です.
Q2. Fill in the blank: I worked late yesterday. ___, I have to work late today too. (Hint: "moreover")
Show answer
それに
それに expresses additional information (moreover). Full sentence: 昨日遅くまで働きました。それに、今日も遅くまで働きます。
Q3. Which usage is WRONG? A. きれいですが、冷たいです。 B. きれいです。それに、親切です。 C. きれいですそれに、親切です。
Show answer
C is wrong.
それに is an independent conjunction — the preceding sentence needs to end with a period before starting a new sentence with それに. It cannot be directly attached after です (that's how が works). Correct: きれいです。それに、親切です。