[JLPT grammar] レストランにテーブルがひとつだけない→Incorrect

Today I am going to share the homework correction quoted from my JLPT N4 course!
The student’s sentence is not correct. Can you find the mistake?

 

[Student’s sentence]

このレストランにはテーブルがひとつだけない。

 



 

[My correction]

このレストランにはテーブルがひとつだけない。
→このレストランにはテーブルがひとつしかない。
This restaurant has only one table.

テーブルがひとつだけない
=Other tables are there, but one particular table is missing.

テーブルがひとつしかない
=There is only one table.
ひとつしかない means the same as ひとつだけある. If you use しか〜ない, it sounds like you are complaining that just one table is not enough. There are no personal feelings or judgment in だけ(ある) sentence.

If you want to express “just” and “only”, use しか〜ない, but not だけ〜ない(だけ with a negative form).

 

I hope my explanation helps you. 😊

 

In the JLPT course, all lessons come with homework, if you submit your homework, I will reply with corrections.
I can break down the Japanese grammar and point out mistakes, explaining the structure and nuances of Japanese in an easy-to-understand way.
You can also ask me any questions as much as you want. I will teach you until you get it!

 

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