Japatan
Formation
- V（〜ます／〜ません／〜ました） + が、〜
- いA + です + が、〜
- なA + です + が、〜
- N + です + が、〜
- 普通形 + が、〜（書きことばでよく使う。なA・N は「だ」をつける）
Explanation
が here joins two sentences: A が B. It has two uses. (1) Contrast: B is different from what you would expect from A, like "but." When two things are compared, both are often marked with は: 肉は 食べますが、魚は 食べません. (2) Lead-in: in すみませんが or 失礼ですが, が softly introduces a question or request and does not mean "but." In polite speech, が comes right after です or ます.
Examples
私の 部屋は 静かですが、駅から 遠いです。
My room is quiet, but it is far from the station.
デパートへ 行きましたが、何も 買いませんでした。
I went to the department store, but I didn't buy anything.
肉は 食べますが、魚は 食べません。
I eat meat, but I don't eat fish.
すみませんが、駅は どこですか。
Excuse me, where is the station?
Notes
This が comes at the end of the first sentence; it is not the subject marker in 雨が 降ります. To begin a new sentence with "but," use でも: 高いです。でも、おいしいです. In casual conversation, けど is common instead of が.
Related grammar
Mini quiz
1たくさん 食べました（ ）、まだ おなかが すいています。
Answer and explanation
Answer: 1 が
"I ate a lot, but I am still hungry." The two parts contrast, so they are joined with が. から gives a reason ("because I ate a lot"), which does not fit with still being hungry. まで and を cannot join two sentences.
2すみません（ ）、もう一度 言ってください。
Answer and explanation
Answer: 3 が
"Excuse me, but could you say that once more?" すみませんが is a set lead-in before a request; this が softens the opening and has no real "but" meaning. を, で and に cannot follow すみません.
3この 店の ＿＿ ＿＿ ＿★＿ ＿＿ おいしくないです。
Answer and explanation
Answer: 2 が
The correct order is 3→4→2→1: この 店の ケーキは きれいですが、あまり おいしくないです (The cakes at this shop look pretty, but they are not very tasty). あまり goes with the negative おいしくないです, so ★ is が.
