Conjunctions - But [는데/데]

는데/데 is frequently used in casual spoken Korean. 는데/데 means "but"

For example,

• 그리스어는 할 줄 아는데 이태리어는 할 줄 몰라 = I know how to do(speak/write/read) Greek but I don't know how to do(speak/write/read) Italian.

• 밥은 먹는데, 반찬은 안 먹어. = I eat 밥 (cooked rice) but I don't eat side dishes.

• 방은 넓은데, 화장실은 좁아 = The room is spacious but the bathroom is cramped(small).

Rules

1. Take 다 off a plain form of verbs and attach 는데 to it.

• 하다 → 하는데 = do but
• 가다 → 가는데 = go but
• 오다 → 오는데 = come but
• 먹다 → 먹는데 = eat but
• 마시다 → 마시는데 = drink but
• 사다 → 사는데 = buy but
• 팔다 → 파는데 = sell but
• 걷다 → 걷는데 = walk but

Note: Take a final consonant, ㄹ, off a plain form of verbs and then attach 는데.

• 알다 → 아는데 (know)
  
• 팔다 → 파는데 (sell)

2. Add 데 to Adjectives - Descriptive form of adjectives.

• 크다 → 큰데 = big / large but
• 작다 → 작은데 = small but
• 가깝다 → 가까운데 = close but (in distance)
• 멀다 → 먼데 = far but (in distance)
• 많다 → 많은데 = a lot / many but
• 적다 → 적은데 = few / little but
• 뜨겁다 → 뜨거운데 = hot but (temperature)
• 차갑다 → 차가운데 = cold but (temperature)

Example sentences (spoken form)

• 오늘은 학교 가는데, 내일은 학교 안가요. = I go to school today but I don't go to school tomorrow.
• 영화를 보러 갔는데, 보고 싶은 영화가 없었어 = I went to see a movie but there was no movie that I wanted to watch.
• 예전에는 키가 작았는데, 지금은 키 커. = (I/He/She) was small (height) before but (I/He/She) am/is tall now.
• 이 음식 보기에는 맛있어 보이는데, 먹어보니까 맛이 없어. = This meal looks delicious but it's not delicious (at all) after I've tried it.