[JLPT grammar] Difference between だけ and ばかり.

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]

弟は毎日ゲームだけしています。

*おとうとはまいにちげーむだけしています。

 



 

[My correction]

弟は毎日ゲームだけしています。
→弟は毎日ゲームばかりしています。
My brother plays games all day every day.

だけ means “and nothing else”, it does not suggest there is too much of anything.
ばかり emphasizes a large amount of something. Often it has a negative nuance to it meaning. In that situation, the action or thing is beyond what the speaker would prefer.

?弟は毎日ゲームだけしています。
He really only plays the game. He doesn’t eat, go to the bathroom, or even sleep.

◎弟は毎日ゲームばかりしています。
He plays the game too much. But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t do other things.

 

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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