A German question?

Question

I've been studying German for a while now and I have encountered a problem, the usage of the word "but," I have found three words for it;
Aber
Doch
Sondern

What are the differences between the three and are there any other ways of saying 'but,"

Answer 1

"Aber" and "Doch" are nearly the same. For example, you can say "Aber er wusste es" as well as "Doch er wusste es".

"Sondern" is a bit special. In almost every case it has to be in a subordinary clause. For example in this sentence:
"Die Ampel war nicht rot, sondern grün".

You could also say "allerdings", as in "Allerdings war er sich nicht sicher, was er tun sollte".

Addition:
"Doch" is also a word used in discussions, like in this example:

person 1: Ich habe heute viel Geld gewonnen (I won much money today)

person 2: Das glaube ich dir nicht (I don't believe you)

person 1: Doch, ich sage die Wahrheit (Yes, I'm telling the truth)

Answer 2

Sonder is used in somthing like " Dont eat a peach but a banana. Aber would be used is somthing like I dont have a peach but you can have a banana. Doch is like ..Did you eat the peach?, No I ate the banana. Did not, Did too. did not ,did too, ect ect.Kinda strange its like a positive negative kind of .you can argue back and forth likething.. Doch. Doch.Doch...back and forth forever.

Answer 3

''Sondern'' is always used in a ''not-that-but-this'' context. The word ''rather'' could be an equivalent.

not only....but also = nicht nur...sondern auch

I didn't go to school today, but to the movies. = Ich bin heute zur Schule nicht gegangen, sondern ins Kino.

It is used as if you wanted to rectify one's statement.

Answer 4

SORRY all i know is that nein means no and ja means yes.