"this is a dog" vs "but this is a cat"

Question

"this is a dog" vs "but this is a cat"

The phrases "this is a dog" and "but this is a cat" are not directly comparable as they convey different information. The first phrase simply states that something is a dog, while the second phrase contrasts the current subject with a cat. Both phrases are correct in their respective contexts.

Last Updated: March 08, 2024

This phrase is used to straightforwardly identify an object or animal as a dog.

Examples:

This is a dog I adopted from the shelter.
I can tell this is a dog by its bark.

Alternatives:

This animal is a dog.
That creature is a dog.

This phrase is used to introduce a contrasting statement, emphasizing that the subject is a cat rather than something else.

Examples:

I thought it was a dog, but this is a cat.
It may look like a dog, but this is a cat.

Alternatives:

However, this is a cat.
Yet, this is a cat.

Answer 1

this is a dog

This phrase is correct and commonly used to state that something is a dog.

Answer 2

but this is a cat

This phrase is correct and commonly used to contrast the current subject with a cat.

"this is a dog" vs "but this is a cat"

this is a dog

but this is a cat

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