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Consider the following:

> [1] 僕は日本人ではなく, シンガポール人です。 (I'm not Japanese, I'm Singaporean)
>
> [2] 僕は日本人ではないが, シンガポール人です。 (I'm not Japanese but Singaporean)

Comparing my sentences to the worked examples in my grammar practice workbook,
[1] would be correct while [2] would be wrong.

**(Question)** Is [2] a valid sentence?

**(Side Question)** Can I read `ではなく` as `じゃなく`?
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2011-09-18T14:12:08.647
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2011-09-18T16:39:41.333
2020-06-17T08:18:27.500
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question
grammar conjunctions particle-が
When is disjunctive-が appropriate in connecting sentences?
Your textbook is wrong in saying that [2] is wrong. Whenever `P` and `Q` work
in the opposite direction towards expectation of `R`, `P ではないが Q` is okay. For
example, it is fine in the following context:

> A: だれか、アジア人はいませんか。  
>  'Is there any Asian?'  
>  B: 僕は日本人です。  
>  'I am a Japanese.'  
>  C: 僕は日本人ではないが, シンガポール人です。  
>  'I am not a Japanese, but am a Singaporean.'

In this context, `僕は日本人ではない` closes up one possibility of C being an Asian,
but then, `シンガポール人です` opens up another possibility, working towards the
expectation of, and in fact affirming, C being an Asian.

Usually, you read as it is written. If you want `じゃなく`, you will usually write
so. But it is not that wrong to read `ではなく` as `じゃなく`. It is wrong/correct to
the extent that reading English `cannot` as `can't` is.

Actually, even when `P` and `Q` do not work in the opposite direction, you can
use `PがQ` as long as `P` is providing a new topic into the discourse.

> 彼は試験に受かったが、これは普段からの努力の賜物だ。  
>  'He passed the examination, and that is due to his consistent effort.'
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2011-09-18T16:17:54.520
3170
2011-09-18T16:39:41.333
2011-09-18T16:39:41.333
3169
answer