BackGrammar JLPT Level N4 - Lesson 26
Structure of ～たばかり:
Verb［た］+ ばかり
Details about ～たばかり:
As an adverbial particle, ばかり usually has one of three basic meanings.
Degree: 程度 - Highlights the 'rough' amount/degree of something (similar to くらい).
Limit: 限定 - Highlights the 'limit' of something (similar to だけ).
Completion: 完了 - Highlights the 'end', or 'completion' of something.
In this lesson, we will focus primarily on the completion meaning. When connecting ばかり to the past form of a verb (using た), it will imply that a specific action has 'just finished', 'just stopped', or 'just been completed'.
Degree: 程度 - Highlights the 'rough' amount/degree of something (similar to くらい).
Limit: 限定 - Highlights the 'limit' of something (similar to だけ).
Completion: 完了 - Highlights the 'end', or 'completion' of something.
In this lesson, we will focus primarily on the completion meaning. When connecting ばかり to the past form of a verb (using た), it will imply that a specific action has 'just finished', 'just stopped', or 'just been completed'.
- 駅に着いたばかりに友達から「やっぱり今日は遊べない」とメッセージが来た。Just as I got to the station, I got a message from my friend saying, 'Actually, I can't hang out today'.
- 一回遅れたばかりで先生に怒られた。I got scolded by my teacher for being late just once.
- さっき食べたばかりだから、お腹はまだ空いていない。I just ate earlier, so I am still not hungry.
～たばかり
Usage Notes for ～たばかり:
Synonyms for ～たばかり:
たところだ
Just finished doing, Was just doing
たとたんに
The instant or moment, As soon as, Just as
たて
Freshly ~ed, Just ~ed
Example of ～たばかり
今、家を出たばかりです。
I just left home.
電車に乗ったばかりで携帯を落とした。
Just when I got on the train, I dropped my phone.
ユミに彼氏が出来たと聞いたばかり。
I just heard that Yumi got a boyfriend.
また海外行くの？先週台湾に行ったばかりじゃない？
You are going abroad again? Didn't you just go to Taiwan last week?
その漢字を習ったばかりなのに、もう忘れた。
Even though I just learned that kanji, I already forgot it.
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