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I'm still a beginner with japanese.

Here is the example that I foud: すみませんが、さとうをとってください

I'm not completely sure about the meaning of が in this sentence, since the
teacher told me you can both use it or not. What is it for?
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2015-02-04T08:32:26.013
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2015-02-05T09:50:40.613
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question
usage meaning
What is the difference between すみませんが and すみません?
yes that's right. we can use the both sentence in the same sense.

> A: "すみません。さとうをとってください"  
>  B: "すみませんが、さとうをとってください"

Note:  
"すみませんが" or "申し訳ありませんが" or "恐れ入りますが"...etc  
These are just like the Cushion.

A is just it has been completed.  
B can be connected to the sentence after without punctuation.

> "すみませんさとうをとってください" NG  
>  "すみませんがさとうをとってください" OK

adverb

> "さとうをとってください。すみません。" OK  
>  "さとうをとってください。すみませんが。" NG
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2015-02-04T08:54:27.153
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2015-02-05T01:55:37.817
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answer
「が」 simply means "but".

> 「すみません **が** 、さとうをとってください。」 =
>
> "Excuse me, _**but**_ please pass me the sugar."

You can also make the same request without using 「が」 by saying:

> 「すみません。さとうをとってください。」 =
>
> "Excuse me. Please pass me the sugar."

The difference between the two is almost too subtle to mention. It just flows
a little better with 「が」IMHO.
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2015-02-04T08:57:37.257
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2015-02-04T08:57:37.257
2020-06-17T08:18:27.500
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answer