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Which book keeps getting chosen? 「ばかり」 after a noun emphasizes the favored object: other books are rarely read.

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Lesson notes · ≈ JLPT N3 · Intermediate 1

Nばかり／Vてばかりいます~bakari / ~te bakari imasu

keep doing the same thing

Use 「〜てばかりいました」 to recall repeatedly doing the same activity during a past period.

How it works

  1. Which book keeps getting chosen? 「ばかり」 after a noun emphasizes the favored object: other books are rarely read.

    Which book keeps getting chosen? 「ばかり」 after a noun emphasizes the favored object: other books are rarely read.

  2. What does the child keep doing over summer vacation? 「ばかりいます」 after a verb’s て-form emphasizes repeating the same activity.

    What does the child keep doing over summer vacation? 「ばかりいます」 after a verb’s て-form emphasizes repeating the same activity.

  3. This describes a habit or a tendency over a period of time, rather than just an action happening right now.

    This describes a habit or a tendency over a period of time, rather than just an action happening right now.

  4. Use 「いました」 at the end when recalling childhood habits; use 「います」 for current habits.

    Use 「いました」 at the end when recalling childhood habits; use 「います」 for current habits.

  5. The picture-book example emphasizes the action of “always reading.” 「ばかり」 after a noun instead emphasizes what is being read.

    The picture-book example emphasizes the action of “always reading.” 「ばかり」 after a noun instead emphasizes what is being read.

  • The childhood examples can also fondly recall favorite activities. 「ばかり」 does not necessarily express a complaint.

    The childhood examples can also fondly recall favorite activities. 「ばかり」 does not necessarily express a complaint.

    • Example sentences

    • 子供こどもkodomoのnoころ、koro、私わたしwatashiはわwa外そとsotoでde遊んあそんasonでdeばかりbakariいました。imashita。

      When I was a child, I did nothing but play outside.

    • 小さいちいさいchiisaiころ、koro、私わたしwatashiはわwa同じおなじonaji絵本えほんehonをo読んよんyonでdeばかりbakariいました。imashita。

      When I was young, I did nothing but read the same picture book.

    In a conversation

    • A
      子供こどものころ、どんな遊びあそびをしましたか。

      A: What kind of games did you play when you were a child?

    • B
      私わたしはわ川遊びかわあそびが大好きで、だいすきで、夏休みなつやすみはわ川かわで泳いおよいでばかりいました。

      B: I loved playing in the river, so during summer vacation, I did nothing but swim in the river.

    • A
      楽したのしそうですね。私わたしはわ虫取りむしとりをしてばかりいましたよ。

      A: That sounds like fun. I did nothing but catch bugs myself.

    Check yourself

    1. Level 1 · Recognise

      Which sentence is correct?

    2. Level 1 · Recognise

      Listen and choose the meaning

    3. Level 2 · Build

      Put the words in order

      Whenever he has free time, my younger brother does nothing but play games.

    4. Level 3 · Use

      What goes in the blank?

      子供のころ、私は外で____。

      When I was a child, I did nothing but play outside.

    More grammar in this theme

    • 〜させますmake or let someone act
    • 〜のを見ましたsaw someone do
    • 〜ていましたpast repeated habit
    • Nばかり／Vてばかりいますkeep doing the same thing
    • 〜させられますbe made to do
    • 〜させてくれますkindly let me do
    • 〜させてもらいますgratefully be allowed to
    Previous〜ていましたNext〜させられます

    Keep practising

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    Intermediate 1
    Observations and Childhood Experiences