けれども / けど Japanese Grammar Lesson
Grammar Type: Conjunction
Essential Meaning: Although
Construction: Sentence 1 informal + けれども, Sentence 2
Notes:
- けれども is a subordinating conjunction that corresponds to the English conjunctions “Although” or “Though“. In the structure Sentence 1 けれども, Sentence 2, Sentence 2 expresses a situation that occurs in spite of some expectation that is established in Sentence 1. Grammatically, けれども connects the subordinate Sentence 1 to the independent Sentence 2 (i.e. “Although S1, S2.“).
- E.g. 僕はドイツ語があまり好きじゃないけれども勉強しなければならない。[Although I don’t like German very much, I have to study.]
- Because Sentence 1 is a subordinate clause, it typically takes an informal verb form. However, in very formal situations it is acceptable to use a formal verb ending.
- E.g. この本は高いですけれどもいい本ですよ。[Although this book is expensive, it’s a good book.]
- けれども can be written informally as けれど, けども, or けど. From most to least formal: けれども > けれど > けども > けど.
Example Sentences:
私は言わなかったけれどもトムは知っていた。[Although I didn’t say it, Tom knew it.]
この本は高いけれどもいい本ですよ。[Although this book is expensive, it’s a good book.]
僕はドイツ語があまり好きじゃないけれども勉強しなければならない。[Although I don’t like German very much, I have to study.]
大野さんは九十歳だけれどもとても元気だ。[Although Ono-san is 90 years old, she is very healthy.]
WILD Examples:
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