Structure
Verb + が
[い]Adjective + が
[な]Adjective + だ + が
Noun + だ + が
Details
Part of Speech
Particle
Word Type
Conjunctive Particle
Register
Standard
About が
As a particle, が has several different uses in Japanese. However, each of these different uses share a common theme. That theme expresses 'highlighting (A) as important, (B)'. In this use, が comes across as 'but', or 'however' in English.
This nuance of が is used directly after any form of verb or い-Adjective, but requires one of the conjugations of だ or です before it when used with a noun or な-Adjective.
From these examples, we can see that が is simply highlighting that 'while (A) is important, there is extra information'. が with the meaning of 'but' is considered to be very formal, this is due to it sounding quite direct in asserting that there is extra information.
Caution
Sometimes a statement will end with が. In these cases it just means that more information exists, but it is obvious, so it does not need to be said.
Related
Examples
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早いですが、起きます。
It is early, but I will wake up.
難しいですが、頑張ります。
It is difficult, but I will do my best.
寒いですが、外へ行きます。
It's cold, but I will go outside.
ロイさんの携帯は古いですが、速いです。
Roy's cellphone is old, but it is fast.
綺麗ですが、危ないです。
It is beautiful but dangerous.
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Different nuances of each "but" in Japanese
Japanese Tactics
Offline
[DBJG] A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar
Page 120
Tae Kim's Japanese Grammar Guide
Page 110
みんなの日本語 I
Page 56 [CH 8]
みんなの日本語 II
Page 126 [CH 45]
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