Conjunction MAS (but)

Imagine you have two separate thoughts. Thought A: I like the beach. Thought B: It is raining today. You want to join them. In English, you use "but." In Portuguese, you use mas. It acts as a logical coordinator. It sits right in the middle. It tells the listener to expect a contrast. It signals that the second part modifies the first. It is like a grammar traffic light. The first part is green. The mas is yellow. The second part is the change. You are setting expectations. Then you are playfully subverting them. It is the secret to complex thoughts. Even at the A1 level, you need this.

1. 1Creating sentences with mas is very easy. Just follow these simple steps:
2. 2State your first complete idea clearly.
3. 3Place a comma right after the last word.
4. 4Write the word mas after the comma.
5. 5Add your second contrasting idea immediately after.
6. 6Structure: [Idea 1] + [,] + [mas] + [Idea 2].
7. 7Example: Eu estudo, mas não aprendo.
8. 8This means: "I study, but I do not learn."
9. 9(Hopefully, that is not true for you!)
10. 10Notice the comma. It is very important in writing. It gives the reader a tiny breath. It prepares them for the upcoming twist.

You use mas in many real-life situations. Use it when ordering food at a restaurant. Eu quero café, mas sem açúcar. Use it when discussing your schedule. Eu tenho tempo, mas estou cansado. Use it when describing people or places. O hotel é bom, mas é caro. Use it during job interviews. Eu não falo alemão, mas falo inglês. Use it when asking for directions. É perto, mas o caminho é difícil. Basically, use it whenever you see a "but." It works for contradictions. It works for unexpected results. It works for adding a polite limitation. It is the ultimate social lubricant in conversation.

Do not use mas when you mean "more." That is the most common trap for beginners. Do not use it to add things together. If you want to say "two plus two," use mais. Do not use it as a synonym for "because." It only works for contrast, not for reasons. Do not use it at the very end of a sentence. It needs a thought to follow it. Do not use it without a comma in formal writing. It looks a bit messy to native eyes. Think of mas as a connector. If there is nothing to connect, it feels lonely. Avoid using it too many times in one paragraph. It can make your writing feel repetitive. Mix it up with other words later on.

Yes, even native speakers mess this up sometimes. The biggest mistake is the mas versus mais confusion. They sound very similar in some accents. Mas is "but." Mais is "more." One has an "i," and one does not. Think of the "i" as an extra item. Extra means more. No "i" means a sharp turn (but). Another mistake is forgetting the comma before mas. It is a small detail. However, it makes you look much more professional. Some learners put the comma *after* mas. Never do that! The comma stays before the word. Also, do not use pero. That is Spanish. It is a common slip for English speakers. Stick to your lovely Portuguese mas.

You might hear other words like porém or contudo. These also mean "but" or "however." But wait! They are much more formal. You will see them in books or news. You will rarely hear them at a party. Mas is the king of the streets. It is the word for friends and family. There is also embora, which means "although." Embora changes the verb form to the subjunctive. That is too scary for A1! Stick to mas for now. It keeps the verbs simple and direct. It is the safest bet for beginners. It gets the job done without the headache.