aspect N2 uncommon politewritten
〜ばかりだ — things only keep ~ing
〜ばかりだ ・ ばかりだ
Builds on 〜ばかり
Meaning
① ① one-way trend: (things) only keep ~ing / just get more and more ~ — a situation moving steadily in one direction, usually an unwelcome one
② ② all that's left: all that's left is to ~ / everything is ready and only ~ remains — nothing stands between now and the final step
Key sentence
① ① one-way trend
物価は上がるばかりだ。
Prices just keep going up.
② ② all that's left
準備はできた。あとは出発するばかりだ。
The preparations are done — all that's left is to set off.
Formation
| Attaches to | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb (dictionary form) | V(る) + ばかりだ | 増えるばかりだ / 始めるばかりだ |
Examples
① ① one-way trend
彼の病状は悪くなるばかりだ。
His condition only keeps getting worse.
練習しないと、下手になるばかりだ。
If you don't practice, you'll only get worse.
② ② all that's left
料理は並べた。あとは食べるばかりだ。
The food is all laid out; the only thing left is to eat.
When you can't use it
- Sense ① takes change-of-state verbs (増える, 悪くなる, 減る) — it describes a trend, not a one-time act. Sense ② typically follows あとは ('the rest is just to ~'). ① one-way trend
Easily confused with
〜一方だ 〜一方だ is the very close 'keeps getting more/worse' one-way trend (sense ①). ばかりだ stresses 'nothing but this direction'; 一方だ stresses the single, continuing direction itself. Largely interchangeable for worsening trends. 〜ている ている is neutral 'is ~ing' (a state or ongoing action). ばかりだ① adds that the change runs relentlessly in one direction, with no turnaround.
See 〜ばかりだ in real sentences
Jengo shows 〜ばかりだ the way you actually meet it: inside real Japanese sentences, so it sticks instead of staying an abstract rule.
Study it in JengoSources Compiled with reference to A Dictionary of Advanced Japanese Grammar.