Coordinating Conjunction - aber

German word order is often very strict. Most conjunctions change where the verb goes. However, aber is a special guest. It belongs to a group called "ADUSO" words. This stands for aber, denn, und, sondern, and oder. These words live in "Position Zero". They do not count as a position. Imagine a row of chairs for words. The first chair is Position 1. The second chair is Position 2. The word aber stands in the hallway. It does not take a chair. Because of this, the next sentence stays normal. The subject stays in Position 1. The verb stays in Position 2. It is like the conjunction is invisible to the verb.

1. 1Using aber follows a very simple recipe. Follow these steps for perfect sentences:
2. 2Write your first complete sentence or clause.
3. 3Place a comma immediately after the last word.
4. 4Write the word aber after the comma.
5. 5Write your second sentence or clause.
6. 6Ensure the verb in the second part is in Position 2.
7. 7Example: Ich trinke Kaffee (Sentence 1) + , + aber + ich trinke keinen Tee (Sentence 2).
8. 8Result: Ich trinke Kaffee, aber ich trinke keinen Tee.

Use aber when you have a contradiction. It works perfectly for unexpected information. Use it when ordering food in a restaurant. "I want the soup, but no onions." Use it when talking about your hobbies. "I like skiing, but I hate the cold." It is great for job interviews too. "I speak English, but I am learning German." Use it to soften a "no". It makes you sound polite and nuanced. It is the ultimate tool for adding detail. You can use it with adjectives alone. Das Auto ist alt, aber schnell. This is short and efficient. Germans love efficiency, after all.

Do not use aber to replace oder. oder is for choices, not contrasts. Do not use it when you need to correct a negative. If you say "Not X, but Y", use sondern instead. For example: "I don't want water, but juice." That needs sondern. Do not use aber if the two ideas agree. If they agree, use und. Using aber there would confuse your listener. It would be like a grammar traffic light turning green and red at once. Also, avoid using it without a comma in writing. It is a small detail, but it matters.

Many learners forget the mandatory comma. In English, the comma is often optional. In German, the comma is a strict rule. Another mistake is moving the verb. Do not put the verb right after aber. Ich bin müde, aber gehe ich nach Hause is wrong. The subject must come first. Ich bin müde, aber ich gehe nach Hause is correct. Some learners use aber when they mean "however" at the start. While possible, it usually requires a different structure. Stick to the middle of the sentence for now. Even native speakers might skip the subject if it is the same. But as a beginner, keep the subject for clarity. It prevents your sentence from falling apart.

Compare aber with sondern. This is the biggest hurdle for A1 students. Use aber to add a contrasting fact. Ich habe ein Auto, aber es ist klein. Use sondern to replace a false statement. Ich habe kein Auto, sondern ein Fahrrad. Think of sondern as a correction tool. Think of aber as an "extra info" tool. Also, compare it with trotzdem. trotzdem means "anyway" or "nevertheless". It actually moves the verb to Position 2. aber is much friendlier to your word order. It lets the verb stay where it belongs.