But / Although (けど / けれど)
〜けど / 〜けれど
けど (casual) and けれど/けれども (formal) mean 'but' or 'although,' connecting contrasting clauses.
Pattern
Clause 1 + けど/けれど + Clause 2
Explanation
けど connects two clauses with a contrasting relationship: '高いけど、おいしいです' (It's expensive, but it's delicious). けど is casual; けれど and けれども are progressively more formal.
けど can also soften a statement or introduce a topic: 'すみませんけど、道を教えてもらえますか' (Excuse me, but could you tell me the way?). This softening use is very common in everyday speech.
The polite counterpart is が: '高いですが、おいしいです.' が is used in formal writing and speech.
Examples
日本語は難しいけど、面白いです。
にほんごはむずかしいけど、おもしろいです。
Nihongo wa muzukashii kedo, omoshiroi desu.
Japanese is difficult, but interesting.
高いけど、買いたいです。
たかいけど、かいたいです。
Takai kedo, kaitai desu.
It's expensive, but I want to buy it.
すみませんけど、ちょっといいですか。
すみませんけど、ちょっといいですか。
Sumimasen kedo, chotto ii desu ka.
Excuse me, but do you have a moment?
行きたいけど、時間がない。
いきたいけど、じかんがない。
Ikitai kedo, jikan ga nai.
I want to go, but I don't have time.
Common Mistakes
Wrong
けど日本語は面白いです。
Correct
日本語は難しいけど面白いです。
けど connects two clauses. It cannot start a sentence without a preceding clause.
Wrong
難しいですけれどが、面白いです。
Correct
難しいけれど、面白いです。
Use either けれど or が, not both together.
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