Expressing Opposition with Complex

This grammar point is all about connection. It links two independent sentences. Imagine you have two blocks of Lego. One says "I am hungry." The other says "The fridge is empty." Mais is the piece that snaps them together. It tells the listener to expect a surprise. It signals that the second half of your sentence will go against the first half. It works exactly like "but" in English. You don't need to change the verb endings. You don't need to worry about gender here. The connector stays the same no matter what. It is like a grammar traffic light. It tells the conversation to pause and change direction. Even native speakers use this in almost every conversation. It is the bread and butter of French speech.

1. 1Building these sentences is very simple. You just need to follow these three steps:
2. 2State your first complete idea. (Example: Je veux un café.)
3. 3Add a comma for a quick breath. (Example: ,.)
4. 4Write your connector followed by the second idea. (Example: mais je n'ai pas d'argent.)
5. 5If you want to use par contre, the steps are the same. However, par contre usually goes at the end of the second idea or after the verb. For now, keep it simple. Place mais right in the middle. It acts as the glue. You can also use pourtant. It is like saying "and yet." Use it when the opposition is even stronger. Most of the time, mais is your best friend. It is short, easy to remember, and always correct.

You will use opposition in many real-world scenarios. Imagine you are at a restaurant. You want the steak, but you want it without fries. You would say: Je veux le steak, mais sans frites. Or maybe you are at a job interview. You might say: Je parle anglais, mais je ne parle pas espagnol. It is perfect for clarifying facts. Use it when you need to set limits. Use it when you want to show a contrast. For example: "The house is small, but it is beautiful." In French: La maison est petite, mais elle est belle. It is also great for making plans. "I am free on Monday, but not on Tuesday." Je suis libre lundi, mais pas mardi. It makes your speech feel balanced and logical.

Don't use mais for simple lists. If both ideas go in the same direction, use et. For example: "I like tea and I like coffee." Here, there is no fight between the ideas. Don't use mais if the second idea explains the first. In that case, use parce que (because). Also, avoid using too many mais in one sentence. It makes you sound like you can't make up your mind. Think of it like a spice. A little bit adds flavor. Too much ruins the dish. If you are just adding information, stick to et or aussi. Save mais for when there is a real conflict or a surprise waiting.

One big mistake is forgetting the comma. In French, we usually put a comma before mais. It helps the reader see the break. Another mistake is using mais when you mean "only." In English, we sometimes say "I have but one dream." Don't do this in French with mais. Use ne... que instead. Some people also try to use mais at the very start of every sentence. While possible, it can sound a bit dramatic. "But, I don't know!" should just be "I don't know." Also, watch out for the word order. Keep the subject and verb together after the mais. Don't try to get fancy yet. Yes, even native speakers mess this up when they are tired. Just keep your sentences short and clear.

You might wonder about par contre vs mais. Mais is the all-rounder. You can use it anywhere. Par contre is a bit more specific. It translates to "on the other hand." Use it when you are weighing two options. For example: "The hotel is expensive. On the other hand, it is near the beach." L'hôtel est cher. Par contre, il est près de la plage. Then there is pourtant. This is for when something is truly unexpected. "He is rich, yet he is unhappy." Il est riche, pourtant il est malheureux. Think of mais as a gentle nudge. Pourtant is a loud shout of surprise. As an A1 learner, mais is your primary tool. Master it first before moving to the others.