Me gusta el chocolate, _____ no el chocolate blanco
I like chocolate, but not white chocolate
- A sino
- B pero
In Spanish, pero is used to add contrasting information or details to a previous statement. In this case, the speaker gives further details by saying that she or he likes chocolate but not white chocolate.
El examen no es mañana, _____ hasta el lunes
The exam is not tomorrow, but on Monday
- A sino
- B pero
Sino adds more information and negates/corrects the statement presented before. In this example, we’re denying the statement “the test is tomorrow” and we correct it by saying the right date (Monday). Sino always works with negative sentences.
Sé español, ____ no hablo muy bien
I know Spanish, but I don’t speak very well
- A pero
- B sino
We use pero to add opposite information to a previous statement. ‘...pero no hablo muy bien’ offers more details about the speaker’s performance in Spanish.
Clara es muy inteligente, _____ muy floja para estudiar
Clara is very smart, but she’s very lazy to study
- A sino
- B pero
‘Pero es muy floja para estudiar’ not only is an opposite idea to the first statement, but also provides further information about Clara. In Spanish, ‘pero’ is used to connect two sentences with opposite ideas.
No puedo ayudarte hoy, _____ mañana
I can’t help you today, but rather tomorrow
- A pero
- B sino
Sino works with negative sentences and it denies and corrects the information presented. In this example, ‘...sino mañana’ negates and corrects the first part of the sentence.
No soy española, ____ mexicana
I’m not Spanish, but Mexican
- A pero
- B sino
Sino works with negative sentences and it denies and corrects the information presented. In this case, not only I’m negating that I’m Spanish, but also I’m giving you further information and correcting you by saying ‘sino mexicana’.
Alex me invitó a su fiesta, _____ no fui
Alex invited me to her party, but I didn’t go
- A sino
- B pero
We use pero to add opposite information to a previous statement. By using ‘pero no fui’ it’s adding extra details to the first piece of information.
Estoy enferma, _____ no es nada serio
I’m sick, but it’s nothing serious
- A pero
- B sino
In Spanish, pero is used to connect two sentences with opposite ideas. By adding ‘...pero no es nada serio’, we’re adding more information to the first sentence.
No cuesta 5 dólares, _____ 10
It doesn’t cost 5 dollars, but 10
- A sino
- B pero
Sino works with negative sentences and it denies and corrects the information presented. In this case, I’m expressing that this object doesn’t cost 5 dollars and I give the correct information by adding ‘sino 10’.
No tengo mascotas, ____ me gustaría tener una
I don’t have pets, but I would like to have one
- A sino
- B pero
‘...pero me gustaría tener una’ not only is an opposite idea to the first statement (No tengo mascotas’, but also provides more information. In Spanish, ‘pero’ is used to connect two sentences with opposite ideas.
Esto no es café, _____ té
This is not coffee, but tea
- A sino
- B pero
We use sino to connect, deny and correct negative statements. In this example, we’re expressing that this drink is not water.
No vine a ayudarte con tu trabajo, _____ a descansar
I didn’t come to help you with your work, but to rest
- A pero
- B sino
We use sino to connect, deny, and correct negative statements. In this example, we’re expressing that the activity we came to do is not working.
Mi perro no es grande, ____ pequeño
My dog is not big, but small
- A pero
- B sino
‘...sino pequeño’ not only denies that my dog’s size is big, but it also provides the correct information. In Spanish, sino works with negative sentences.
Quiero viajar por el mundo, ____ no tengo tiempo
I want to travel around the world, but I don’t have time
- A pero
- B sino
In Spanish, pero is used to add contrasting information or details to a previous statement. In this case, by using pero we include the reason why we cannot travel right now.
Diviértanse, ______ tengan cuidado
Have fun, but take care of yourselves
- A sino
- B pero
Pero is used to connecting two or more sentences with contrasting information. ‘Divertirse’ (have fun) and ‘tener cuidado’ (take care) can be perceived as contrasting statements.
Quiz Results
| Question | Answer Given | Correct Answer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Me gusta el chocolate, _____ no el chocolate blanco | |||
| El examen no es mañana, _____ hasta el lunes | |||
| Sé español, ____ no hablo muy bien | |||
| Clara es muy inteligente, _____ muy floja para estudiar | |||
| No puedo ayudarte hoy, _____ mañana | |||
| No soy española, ____ mexicana | |||
| Alex me invitó a su fiesta, _____ no fui | |||
| Estoy enferma, _____ no es nada serio | |||
| No cuesta 5 dólares, _____ 10 | |||
| No tengo mascotas, ____ me gustaría tener una | |||
| Esto no es café, _____ té | |||
| No vine a ayudarte con tu trabajo, _____ a descansar | |||
| Mi perro no es grande, ____ pequeño | |||
| Quiero viajar por el mundo, ____ no tengo tiempo | |||
| Diviértanse, ______ tengan cuidado |
Since they both can be translated as ‘but’, pero and sino are easy to confuse in Spanish. So, if you’re still struggling to understand these words as well as the contexts where you use them, check out what are the differences between pero and sino.