immersionlog

〜ばかり

nothing but, only (too much)

Noun + ばかり · Verb て-form + ばかりいる

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ばかり after a noun means "nothing but": 弟はゲームばかりしています, "my little brother does nothing but play games". Compared with だけ ("only", neutral), ばかり suggests there's too much of it, and often complains.

After a て-form, with いる, it describes someone doing only one thing: 寝てばかりいないで、手伝って, "stop lying around and help".

Particles が and を usually disappear after ばかり; others go after it: 甘い物ばかり食べる.

It also appears after the た-form with a different meaning, "just did", which is covered in the next point of this deck.

Examples

  • 弟おとうとはゲームばかりしています。

    My little brother does nothing but play games.

  • 毎日雨まいにちあめばかりですね。

    It's nothing but rain every day.

  • 甘あまい物ものばかり食たべてはいけません。

    You shouldn't eat nothing but sweet things.

  • 彼かれは文句もんくばかり言いっている。

    He does nothing but complain.

  • 寝ねてばかりいないで、手伝てつだって。

    Stop lying around and give me a hand.

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