JLPT N2 grammar

それがmeaning and usage

Meaning

  1. Although (you'd expect) A, (actually) B
  2. Even though A was planned, B

How to form it

  • それが、+sentence

How it is used

Spoken, often at the start of a reply: things turned out differently from what the listener expects or from the plan: 'well, actually…'. Bad news or an unexpected result usually follows.

Examples

  1. 「デートどうだった？」「それが最悪だった。風邪ひいてダメになった。」

    "How was the date?" "Well actually, it was the worst; I caught a cold and ruined it."

  2. 「旅行は楽しかった？」「それが、ずっと雨だったんだ。」

    'Did you enjoy your trip?' 'Well, actually, it rained the whole time.'

  3. 早く帰るつもりだった。それが、急に仕事が入ってしまった。

    I meant to go home early, but then some work suddenly came up.