Pero vs Sino
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A conjunction connects two or more sentences, clauses, or parts of clauses. "Pero" and "sino" are coordinating conjunctions meaning "but." However, while both "pero" and "sino" are used to express contrasting ideas, they have a slightly different meaning and usage.
*PERO (but): it’s usually used when the second clause adds a qualification of what has been said before. It could also be translated as 'however' or 'nevertheless',
•No soy inglés, pero hablo bien el idioma. I'm not English, but I speak the language well. •Es un día soleado pero hace frío. It's a sunny day but cold. •Mi primo es muy listo pero no es agradable. My cousin is very clever but not friendly.
*SINO (but, but rather, but on the contrary,but instead): it’s used to say something negative or the opposite or contradicts something said earlier.
•No soy alto sino bajo. I’m not tall but short. •Pedro no es tonto, sino inteligente. Juan is not stupid, but he is intelligent. •El culpable no soy yo sino tú. The guilty is not me but you.
Also, we already posted about another structure with “sino” (post 23 Abril):
No solo/no sólamente + SINO (QUE) + además/también (not only+but also): It’s used to affirm two actions or activities.
•No solo trabajo en un restaurante sino que también estudio Medicina. Not only I work at a restaurant but also I study Medicine. •No solamente habla español sino también inglés y alemán. Not only he can speak Spanish but also he speaks English and German. •María no solamente es inteligente sino que también es agradable. Maria is not only intelligent but also she is nice.
6 Answers
Ellos no están hablando ruso sino español.
Ellos no manejan sino que caminan.
Ellos quieren ir pero no pueden porque está lloviendo.
Carlos no es alto, pero corre muy rápido.
Carlos is not tall, but he is able to run very rapidly.
Lo podría sino preferiría leer tuyos.
I could but I would rather read yours.
*SINO (but, but rather, but on the contrary,but instead): it’s used to say something negative or the opposite or contradicts something said earlier.
To the casual non-native reader: I have highlighted the appropriate word; whether pero or sino to show which I would use. These particular highlighted words are not corrections :and should not be interpreted as such! Than you for reading this post 
Con correcciones: ej 1 Con la palabra pero:: . Trató de escribir una carta a su ex-novia ¡pero no podía pensar nada positivo que decir!
He tried to write a letter to his ex girlfriend but was not able to think of anything positive to say!
ej 2.Con la palabra sino: ¡Dos estudiantes en la clase de español en su escuela secundaria no solo podían obtener muy buenas notas en sus exámenes D.E.L.E. sino también ganaron galardones por hacer el mayor progreso en su clase!
Two students in the Spanish class at their secondary school were not only able to achieve good grades in their D.E.L. E exams but they also won awards for makng the most progress in their class!.
pero no podía pensar nada positivO que decir". "también ganaron galardones por hacer el mayor progreso en su clase". Good job! - SpanishSkype 2 hrs ago
Muchas gracias, Spanish
I wasn't sure how to say ' the most progress in this context.
I could but I would rather read yours
YO podría pero preferiría leer tuyos
Do you want to try to write some sentences with pero and sino? Come on! you can do it!
