At a glance
ただ at the start of a sentence means "however" or "the only thing is". Use it when A is basically true and B adds a limitation, a condition or a small concern.
A。ただ、B。
この店は安くておいしい。ただ、いつも混んでいる。 This shop is cheap and tasty. The only thing is, it's always crowded.
How to form it
ただ is a conjunction. It does not change form.
| Point | Details |
|---|---|
| Position | Start of sentence B, after the 。 that ends A |
| Punctuation | Usually followed by a comma: ただ、… |
| Sentence A | A complete statement, often positive |
| Sentence B | A limitation, condition or concern about A |
| Register | Neutral. Used in conversation, business and writing |
| Politeness | Works with both polite and plain sentences |