What’s the difference between pero, sino and si no?
Just here for the exercises? Click here.Introduction
Pero and sino are both adversative conjunctions: they are linking words that introduce a contrast. They can be translated as but and but (rather) respectively. However, the phrase si no (if not) belongs to a different grammatical category but is easily confused with sino. Learn to use these three confusing words correctly with Lingolia’s examples, then test your knowledge in the exercises.
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Me encantan los helados. Pero no me gusta cualquier sabor, sino solo los de chocolate y vainilla.
Solo como helados en verano; si no, me resfrío.
pero
Pero can be translated into English as but. It is an adversative conjunction: it contrasts two different ideas or concepts.
- When it connects two clauses, it is preceded by a comma.
- Example:
- Tengo muchas ganas de ir al lago, pero tengo que trabajar.I really want to go to the lake, but I have to work.
- When pero connects two words, we do not use a comma.
- Example:
- El viaje fue largo pero tranquilo.The journey was long but peaceful.
- When pero is followed by a parenthetical remark, pero is placed between commas.
- Example:
- Había entrenado muy duro, pero, aún asi, la carrera fue dura.I had trained really hard, but, nonetheless, the race was hard.
- When used at the beginning of a sentence that has no relation to the sentence before, pero gives emphasis to what the speaker is saying
- Example:
- Pero ¡qué pastel tan delicioso!(But) what a delicious cake!
- No comma.
- We can also include pero in the exclamation marks.
- Example:
- ¡Pero qué pastel tan delicioso!
sino
- Sino can be translated into English as but (rather). It is an adversative conjunction; it denies one concept by affirming another.
- Example:
- No he comprado zumo de naranja sino de manzana.I didn’t buy orange juice but apple juice.
-
The first clause must be negated.
- When sino connects two sentences, it is preceded by a comma and followed by que.
- Example:
- El año pasado no viajé a Cuba, sino que me fui de vacaciones a Ecuador.Last year I didn’t go to Cuba but I went on holiday to Ecuador.
- When sino is a noun it means destino (destiny).
- Example:
- Mi sino es viajar a la Luna.My destiny is to travel to the moon.
si no
- Si no is the combination of the conjunction si (if) and the negative adverb no (not). It has a conditional meaning of if not.
- Example:
- Perderás el autobús si no te das prisa.You’ll miss the bus if you don’t hurry.
- If the clause that expresses the condition comes first we write si no between commas.
- Example:
- Date prisa; si no, perderás el autobús.Hurry up; if you don’t, you’ll miss the bus.