〜ばかりだ (change)
bakari da (change)
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Meaning
only keeps …ing / does nothing but get… (worsening one-way change)
〜ばかりだ (after a change verb) means the situation keeps moving in one bad direction: 成績は下がるばかりだ "my grades just keep dropping". It is always negative in feeling: things get worse and nothing improves. For a neutral or positive trend use 〜一方だ.
Complaints and worried observations in speech and writing: 借金が増えるばかりだ, 状況は悪くなるばかりだ. Frequently followed by で + a further consequence: 増えるばかりで、減らない.
Formation
V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
Verb (dictionary form, change verb) + ばかりだConnective: 〜ばかりで、〜Past: 〜ばかりだった
Visual diagram
- 彼の成績はtopic
- 下がるchange verb (getting worse)
- ばかりだonly keeps… (negative)
Natural examples
最近、仕事が忙しくなるばかりだ。
さいきん、しごとがいそがしくなるばかりだ。
Lately work just keeps getting busier.
Work keeps getting busier; a complaint.
彼の成績は下がるばかりだ。
かれのせいせきはさがるばかりだ。
His grades only keep dropping.
Grades dropping: a clear worsening.
借金は増えるばかりで、減らない。
しゃっきんはふえるばかりで、へらない。
The debt only grows and never shrinks.
ばかりで + the missing improvement (減らない).
薬を飲んでも、症状はひどくなるばかりだった。
くすりをのんでも、しょうじょうはひどくなるばかりだった。
Even with the medicine, the symptoms just kept getting worse.
Past: ばかりだった.
話し合いを続けても、二人の関係は悪くなるばかりだ。
はなしあいをつづけても、ふたりのかんけいはわるくなるばかりだ。
Even though they keep talking it over, their relationship only gets worse.
Adjective + なる + ばかりだ.
Similar grammar and the difference
Same structure but neutral: can be positive or negative. Compare side by side
〜たばかりだ
'Just did' (食べたばかりだ). Different meaning; note the た-form.
〜ばかり (only)
'Nothing but' after nouns or て-forms: 遊んでばかりいる 'does nothing but play'.
Common mistakes
- ✗
- 成績はよくなるばかりだ。
- ✓
- 成績はよくなる一方だ。
- Why
- ばかりだ cannot describe improvement; use 一方だ for positive trends.
- ✗
- 借金が増えたばかりだ。(meaning 'keeps increasing')
- ✓
- 借金が増えるばかりだ。
- Why
- With the た-form, ばかりだ means 'has just increased'. The trend meaning needs the dictionary form.
- ✗
- 彼は文句を言うばかりだ。→ counted as this pattern
- ✓
- (This is the 'only does X' use, not the change use.)
- Why
- 言う is not a change verb; here ばかり means 'does nothing but complain'. The change meaning requires 増える/減る/なる-type verbs.
Typical verbs: 増える, 減る, 悪くなる, ひどくなる, 下がる, 広がる, 遠ざかる. The idea that nothing counteracts the trend is often stated: 〜ばかりで、少しもよくならない. Related ばかり uses (〜たばかり, 〜てばかりいる, 〜ばかりか) are separate items; check the verb form.
JLPT N3 tips
On the exam
- A negative trend + dictionary form + ばかりだ. If the trend is good, the answer is 一方だ.
- Watch the verb form in the choices: た-form + ばかり is 'just did', not a trend.
- ばかりで followed by a negative clause (減らない, よくならない) is a common pattern in 文法形式の判断.
Frequently asked questions
What does 〜ばかりだ (change) mean?
only keeps …ing / does nothing but get… (worsening one-way change). 〜ばかりだ (after a change verb) means the situation keeps moving in one bad direction: 成績は下がるばかりだ "my grades just keep dropping". It is always negative in feeling: things get worse and nothing improves. For a neutral or positive trend use 〜一方だ.
How do you form 〜ばかりだ (change)?
Verb (dictionary form, change verb) + ばかりだ / Connective: 〜ばかりで、〜 / Past: 〜ばかりだった. V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
When is 〜ばかりだ (change) used?
Complaints and worried observations in speech and writing: 借金が増えるばかりだ, 状況は悪くなるばかりだ. Frequently followed by で + a further consequence: 増えるばかりで、減らない.
What is the difference between 〜ばかりだ (change) and 〜一方だ?
Same structure but neutral: can be positive or negative.
What is the difference between 〜ばかりだ (change) and 〜たばかりだ?
'Just did' (食べたばかりだ). Different meaning; note the た-form.
What is a common mistake with 〜ばかりだ (change)?
Wrong: 成績はよくなるばかりだ。 Right: 成績はよくなる一方だ。 ばかりだ cannot describe improvement; use 一方だ for positive trends.
Quick check
会社の借金は（ ）ばかりで、返せる見込みがない。