限Particles: where, when and who
Only
Three ways to say “only”, and each has a different feel: neutral, disappointed, or nothing but.
Start with a puzzle
Which speaker sounds like there isn't enough?
First speaker
百円だけあります。Hyakuen dake arimasu.Second speaker
百円しかありません。Hyakuen shika arimasen.The trio
Three kinds of only
| Word | Verb | Feels like |
|---|---|---|
| だけ | Yes or no | Neutral: just this |
| しか | Always negative | Nothing but this, often not enough |
| ばかり | Usually yes | This and this and this, too much of it |
だけ
Just this, that's all
I only drank water.
が and を usually drop or follow.
I told only Tanaka.
Putting だけ after に focuses on the exclusivity.
I just took a quick look.
After a verb, it means “that's all I did”.
Take as much as you can carry.
After a “can” verb, it means “as much as”.
しか
Must have a negative verb
Only two students came.
You can buy it only in Tokyo.
で, と, から and まで stay before しか.
I can only speak a little Japanese.
ばかり
Nothing but, and three more jobs
All I eat is meat.
Too much of one thing
All my brother does is play games.
After a て form
I've only just arrived.
After a past verb: just happened
We're all ready, just about to leave.
After a plain verb: nothing left but to do it
About a hundred people gathered.
After a number: about
Find the mistake
Tap the part that's wrong.
。
Your turn
だけ or しか?
Check yourself
What's the feeling?
Say it yourself
Running low
A friend wants to go out for dinner, but you have just 500 yen with you, and it's not enough.
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