Start with a question:
たくさん勉強しました。＿＿、テストの点数はよくなかった。
A. ですから B. それに C. さらに D. ところが
The answer is D. ところが. "I studied a lot. However, the test score wasn't good." ところが is specifically for when the result is the opposite of what you'd expect.
Why Learn Conjunctions?
At the beginner level, we get by with short, isolated sentences. But at N4, you need to connect multiple sentences into logical paragraphs -- cause and effect, addition, contrast. That's what conjunctions do.
| Logic | Conjunction | English |
|---|---|---|
| Cause-effect | ですから | Therefore |
| Addition | それに | Moreover |
| Further addition | さらに | Furthermore |
| Unexpected contrast | ところが | However (unexpectedly) |
All four go at the start of a sentence, connecting two independent sentences.
ですから: Therefore
ですから = the first sentence gives the reason, the second gives the result. Equivalent to "therefore" or "so."
| Example | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 明日は試験です。ですから、今日は早く寝ます。 | There's an exam tomorrow. Therefore, I'll go to bed early today. |
| 道が混んでいました。ですから、遅れました。 | The road was congested. That's why I was late. |
| 日本語が上手ですね。ですから、日本人によく間違えられます。 | Your Japanese is good! That's why you're often mistaken for Japanese. |
ですから is the polite version of だから. Use だから in casual speech, ですから in formal situations.
だから vs ですから
| だから | ですから | |
|---|---|---|
| Tone | Casual | Formal, polite |
| Setting | Chatting with friends | Presentations, interviews, clients |
| Example | 疲れた。だから帰る。 | 疲れました。ですから帰ります。 |
それに: Moreover
それに = adding another layer on top of what was already said. Equivalent to "moreover" or "besides."
| Example | Meaning |
|---|---|
| このレストランは安いです。それに、おいしいです。 | This restaurant is cheap. Moreover, it's delicious. |
| 田中さんは優しいです。それに、面白いです。 | Tanaka is kind. And on top of that, funny. |
| 仕事が多いです。それに、毎日残業しなければなりません。 | There's a lot of work. Moreover, I have to work overtime every day. |
それに can stack positives or negatives -- the key is that both sentences go in the same direction.
さらに: Furthermore
さらに = more formal than それに, emphasizing "going even further."
| Example | Meaning |
|---|---|
| このホテルは安いです。さらに、駅から近いです。 | This hotel is cheap. Furthermore, it's close to the station. |
| 日本語を勉強しています。さらに、中国語も始めました。 | I'm studying Japanese. Furthermore, I've also started Chinese. |
| 雨が降り始めました。さらに、風も強くなりました。 | It started raining. On top of that, the wind got stronger. |
それに vs さらに
| それに | さらに | |
|---|---|---|
| Tone | Everyday, works in speech | More formal, written |
| Feeling | Adding one more thing | Going a step further |
| Intensity | Regular addition | Emphasized escalation |
ところが: However (Unexpectedly)
ところが = the result is the complete opposite of what was expected. This is what makes it different from しかし and でも.
| Example | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 元気を出したくて、コーヒーを倍飲んだ。ところが、もっと眠くなった。 | I drank double the coffee to perk up. However, I got even sleepier. |
| たくさん練習しました。ところが、試合に負けました。 | I practiced a lot. However, I lost the match. |
| ダイエットを始めました。ところが、逆に太ってしまいました。 | I started a diet. However, I actually gained weight. |
The key to ところが: something was done with an expectation, but the outcome was surprising and opposite.
ところが vs しかし vs でも
| ところが | しかし | でも | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core | Unexpected reversal | Neutral contrast | Neutral contrast (casual) |
| Feeling | "I thought A, but it was B" | "A, but B" | "A, but B" |
| Tone | Somewhat formal | Formal | Everyday casual |
| Restriction | Result must be unexpected | No special restriction | No special restriction |
Compare these three:
- 薬を飲んだ。ところが、治らなかった。 -- I took the medicine. Unexpectedly, I didn't get better. (Surprise)
- 薬を飲んだ。しかし、治らなかった。 -- I took the medicine. However, I didn't get better. (Neutral contrast)
- 薬を飲んだ。でも、治らなかった。 -- I took the medicine. But I didn't get better. (Casual contrast)
All Four at a Glance
| Conjunction | Logic | Tone | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| ですから | Cause-effect | Formal | Cause → Result |
| それに | Addition | Everyday | A → A + B (same direction) |
| さらに | Addition (stronger) | Formal | A → A + B (deeper) |
| ところが | Contrast (unexpected) | Formal | Expected A → Actual B (opposite) |
Self-Test
Q1. Fill in the conjunction: 「日本の食べ物はおいしいです。＿＿、値段も安いです。」
Show answer
それに or さらに. Both sentences are positive evaluations -- this is addition. Use それに in casual settings, さらに for formal ones.
Q2. 「たくさん食べました。＿＿、全然太りませんでした。」 Which one?
Show answer
ところが. Ate a lot, so you'd expect to gain weight, but didn't at all -- an unexpected contrast.
Q3. 「雨が降っています。＿＿、傘を持ってきてください。」
Show answer
ですから. It's raining (cause), so please bring an umbrella (result). This is a cause-effect relationship.
Summary
- ですから = therefore (cause-effect)
- それに = moreover (addition, everyday)
- さらに = furthermore (addition, formal)
- ところが = however, unexpectedly (surprising contrast)
- All four go at the start of a sentence, connecting two independent sentences
- The key difference between ところが and しかし/でも: ところが requires the result to be unexpected