Certes… mais: French phrases for a balanced reply

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated 24 September 2026 · About the library

Acknowledge a point with certes, then add a useful reservation with mais. Practise six short exchanges about a proposal, a method and a decision.

B1
12 phrases
3 situations
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In short

Certes… mais means “admittedly… but”: Certes, la méthode est lente, mais elle est fiable. You accept the first point and then add a limit or a counterweight. The first statement keeps its ordinary verb form: Certes, elle est prête, with est.

Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn

Two colleagues discussing a useful but bulky wooden project model at a French association table. — A thoughtful reply can begin with certes. Illustration: Atelier

How do you use certes… mais in French?

Certes sounds deliberate and is useful in a debate or a carefully worded reply. For a relaxed conversation, C’est vrai, mais… is often an easier opening. In the exchanges below, the point after mais changes how we should judge the same proposal, method or decision.

A promising proposal

Acknowledge the strength, then name the practical limit.

Your colleagueCette proposition est ambitieuse.This proposal is ambitious.

YouCertes, elle est ambitieuse, mais nous manquons de temps pour la réaliser.Admittedly, it is ambitious, but we lack the time to carry it out.

Your colleagueElle répond quand même à un vrai besoin.It still meets a real need.

YouCertes, mais son financement reste incertain.True, but its funding remains uncertain.A short Certes, mais… accepts the previous speaker’s point.

A slow but useful method

Accept a drawback, then explain the benefit.

Your colleagueCette méthode prend beaucoup de temps.This method takes a lot of time.

YouCertes, elle est lente, mais elle permet de vérifier chaque étape.Admittedly, it is slow, but it lets us check every step.

Your colleagueLa méthode habituelle serait plus rapide.The usual method would be quicker.

YouCertes, mais elle serait moins précise.True, but it would be less precise.

Ready to decide?

Acknowledge progress while keeping one condition in view.

Your colleagueNous avons déjà discuté de tous les points.We have already discussed all the points.

YouCertes, mais deux questions restent sans réponse.True, but two questions remain unanswered.

Your colleagueNous avons quand même assez d’informations pour avancer.We still have enough information to move forward.

YouCertes, nous pouvons avancer, mais la décision finale peut attendre demain.Admittedly, we can move forward, but the final decision can wait until tomorrow.

What can you say instead of certes?

Keep the meaning; rebuild the verb pattern

Frame	French example	Verb
certes… mais	Certes, la méthode est lente, mais elle est fiable.	est
bien que	Bien que la méthode soit lente, elle est fiable.	soit

Certes introduces a statement; mais links the qualification. In the second row, bien que introduces a subordinate clause with the subjunctive. For a written sentence, put a comma after opening Certes and a comma before mais. Longer points can take two sentences: Certes, le projet est utile. Mais il coûte cher.

Certes, le projet est utile, mais il coûte cher.Admittedly, the project is useful, but it is expensive.

Focus: A useful project can still be too expensive.

Certes, le résultat est bon, mais il arrive trop tard.
Admittedly, the result is good, but it comes too late.

Le projet semblait utile. En réalité, il ne répond à aucun besoin.The project seemed useful. In fact, it meets no need.

Focus: The second statement corrects the first impression.

Je le croyais simple. En réalité, il est complexe.
I thought it was simple. In fact, it is complex.