Sino o Pero?

Question

They both mean "but". Why are there two words for "but"? Does it depend on the context of the sentence?

Hope I helped! ☺ - heyitscindyxo, Feb 5, 2012

Answer 1

It all depends on context. "Pero" is used when the sentence structure that comes before it is positive. Por ejemplo: "María es muy bonita, pero se maquilla demasiado."

Pero is also used when the sentence structure before it is negative, but in this case it means "however" and contrasts with previously mentioned information. Por ejemplo: "No me gusta esa mujer, pero siempre me trata bien" - "I don't like that women, but (however) she always treats me well."

¡Pero si! is used to add emphasis to an objection or protest. Por ejemplo: ¡Pero si él no lo hizo!"

Pero can be used as a noun. Por ejemplo: "Ella siempre pone peros a nuestros sueños" - "She always raises objections to our dreams."

Sino is used to express but (rather) to contradict and replace a previously made negative statement. It is never followed by a clause (noun + verb) "La mujer no es fea, sino hermosa"

Sino que is used in the same way as sino, but it is followed by a clause. "La mujer no es fea, sino que es hermosa"

Sino/ Sino que are also used to express "Not only...but (also)" The formula is: "No sólo...sino (sino que) también (además)

Thank you! Very informative response. - SunnyGeek, Feb 2, 2012

Very nice response. - samdie, Feb 3, 2012

Answer 2

Yes. Sino is only used after a negative first phrase. For instance,

Not only was he smart, but handsome.

No sólo era listo, sino guapo.

You can look at other examples here

Ohhh! Thank you! - SunnyGeek, Feb 2, 2012

Answer 3

Hi Sunny, and welcome to the forum.

This question has been discussed a lot. Please enter : sino pero

into the search box window on the main question page. You will find many threads where it is exhaustively discussed.

Answer 4

I'll break it down for ya.

Is it a negative sentence? It's 99% of the time SINO.

If it's positive, then absolutely use PERO.

That should help you!

I'm studying pero & sino, negative commands, and hacer expressions. It's really hard, isn't it? (:

-Cindy

Yes, it is. But it's fun! - SunnyGeek, Feb 2, 2012

Answer 5

Another word for "but" is mas without the accent, i.e. not más. But (lol) it is not as common as pero