Conectores que se parecen
Near-identical connectors are not interchangeable: some join two clauses, others open a sentence, and a few demand the subjunctive. The note under each says which.
pero
conectorbutsin embargoformal
opens a new sentence, after a full stop or a semicolon
El precio bajó. Sin embargo, las ventas no subieron.
no obstanteformal
the same job, heavier
aunqueneutro
joins the two inside one sentence, and can take the subjunctive
ahora bienformal
concedes the point and then turns
en cambioneutro
marks a contrast between two things, not an objection
Lo contrario
- además · adds instead of contrasting
- por eso · draws a consequence
porque
conectorbecauseya queneutro
usually opens the sentence
puesto queformal
the same, more formal
debido a queformal
formal, and debido a alone takes a noun
dado queformal
presents the cause as agreed and moves on
de ahí queformal
gives the consequence, and takes the subjunctive
El plazo era corto; de ahí que se cometieran errores.
Lo contrario
- a pesar de que · the cause did not produce the effect
entonces
conectorso, thereforepor lo tantoformal
the standard written consequence
por consiguienteformal
the same, heavier
así puesformal
formal and slightly literary
de modo queneutro
joins inside one sentence; with subjunctive it means so that
Lo escribió claro, de modo que todos lo entendieran.
en consecuenciaformal
formal, common in reports
Lo contrario
- sin embargo · denies the expected consequence
además
conectorbesidesasimismoformal
adds a second point of equal weight
por otra parteformal
opens a different angle, not merely one more item
cabe añadirformal
adds something the reader might have missed
inclusoneutro
adds the strongest case, the one you did not expect
Lo contrario
- salvo · excludes one case
- excepto · excludes one case