A2 Spanish Connectors: Pero, Sino, Aunque, and Result Words
Learn how to connect A2 Spanish ideas with pero, sino, aunque, así que, entonces, and por eso, with clear differences and natural examples.
A2 Spanish Connectors
Spanish connectors help you join ideas and show the relationship between them. At A2 level, some of the most useful are pero, sino, aunque, así que, entonces, and por eso.
A useful way to group them is:
- pero / sino / aunque → contrast
- así que / entonces / por eso → result or consequence
Pero
Pero means “but.” Use it to contrast two ideas.
Structure:
idea 1 + pero + contrasting idea
- Quiero salir, pero estoy cansado. — I want to go out, but I am tired.
- El restaurante es pequeño, pero la comida es muy buena. — The restaurant is small, but the food is very good.
- Estudio mucho, pero todavía cometo errores. — I study a lot, but I still make mistakes.
Pero does not mean that the first idea is false. It simply introduces a contrast.
Sino
Sino usually means “but rather” or “but instead.”
Use it after a negative statement to correct or replace something.
Structure:
no + A, sino + B
- No vivo en Madrid, sino en Barcelona. — I do not live in Madrid, but rather in Barcelona.
- No quiero café, sino té. — I do not want coffee, but tea instead.
- No es caro, sino bastante barato. — It is not expensive, but rather quite cheap.
Compare:
- Es pequeño, pero cómodo. — It is small, but comfortable.
- No es pequeño, sino grande. — It is not small, but large.
The first sentence contrasts two true descriptions. The second corrects the first idea.
Sino que
When what follows is a full clause with its own verb, use sino que.
- No trabaja en casa, sino que va a la oficina todos los días. — He does not work at home; instead, he goes to the office every day.
- No compramos el coche, sino que lo alquilamos. — We did not buy the car; instead, we rented it.
Aunque
Aunque usually means “although,” “even though,” or sometimes “even if.”
At A2 level, the most useful pattern is aunque + indicative for a real fact.
- Aunque estoy cansada, voy a salir. — Although I am tired, I am going out.
- Aunque llueve, vamos al parque. — Even though it is raining, we are going to the park.
- Me gusta el piso, aunque es un poco caro. — I like the apartment, although it is a little expensive.
Unlike pero, aunque can introduce the contrasting idea first:
- Estoy cansada, pero voy a salir.
- Aunque estoy cansada, voy a salir.
Both express contrast, but the sentence structure is different.
Advanced note: You may also see aunque + subjunctive, especially when the information is uncertain or hypothetical. You do not need this distinction yet at A2.
Así que
Así que means “so.” It introduces a result or consequence.
Structure:
cause + así que + result
- Estoy cansado, así que voy a dormir. — I am tired, so I am going to sleep.
- No tenemos comida, así que vamos al supermercado. — We do not have any food, so we are going to the supermarket.
- Mañana trabajo temprano, así que no voy a salir esta noche. — I work early tomorrow, so I am not going out tonight.
Así que is very common in everyday Spanish.
Entonces
Entonces often means “then” or “so” when it introduces a consequence.
- No tienes coche. Entonces podemos ir en autobús. — You do not have a car. Then / So we can go by bus.
- Está cerrado, entonces volvemos mañana. — It is closed, so we will come back tomorrow.
It can also refer to time:
- Primero desayuno y entonces salgo de casa. — First I have breakfast and then I leave home.
In everyday speech, entonces is often used to continue a story or move to the next idea.
Por eso
Por eso means “that is why” or “for that reason.”
It points back to the reason already mentioned.
- Estoy enfermo. Por eso no voy a trabajar. — I am sick. That is why I am not going to work.
- Ana estudia todos los días. Por eso habla español muy bien. — Ana studies every day. That is why she speaks Spanish very well.
- El tren llegó tarde y por eso perdimos la conexión. — The train arrived late, and that is why we missed the connection.
Así que vs. entonces vs. por eso
All three can introduce a result, but they are not always used in exactly the same way.
| Connector | Common meaning | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| así que | so | directly connects a cause and its result |
| entonces | then / so | introduces the next step or consequence |
| por eso | that is why | refers back to a previously mentioned reason |
Compare:
- Estoy cansado, así que me voy a casa. — I am tired, so I am going home.
- Estoy cansado. Entonces me voy a casa. — I am tired. So / Then I am going home.
- Estoy cansado. Por eso me voy a casa. — I am tired. That is why I am going home.
The meaning is similar, but por eso emphasizes the reason-result relationship most clearly.
Common mistakes
Pero vs. sino
Use pero for contrast:
- ✅ Quiero ir, pero no tengo tiempo.
Use sino to replace something after a negative:
- ✅ No quiero ir hoy, sino mañana.
- ❌ No quiero ir hoy, pero mañana. when you mean “not today, but tomorrow instead”
Sino vs. sino que
Use sino before a noun, adjective, infinitive, or similar element:
- No quiero té, sino café.
Use sino que before a clause with a conjugated verb:
- No toma café, sino que bebe té.
Quick rule
Pero = but Sino = not A, but B instead Aunque = although / even though Así que = so Entonces = then / so Por eso = that is why