Meaning
This pattern uses the dictionary form of a verb followed by ばかりだ to express a situation that continues to develop in a negative direction, meaning 'increasingly worse' or 'keeps getting worse.' Unlike 一方だ which can describe positive, negative, or neutral trends, ばかりだ specifically emphasizes negative, deteriorating situations. It conveys the sense of ますます悪くなる (becoming increasingly bad).
Formation
| Part of speech | Formation |
|---|---|
| 动词辞书形 | ばかりだ |
Examples
-
ここ数ヶ月円の価値が下がるばかりなので、輸入企業が大変苦しんでいます。
Over the past several months, the yen has continued to depreciate, putting import companies in a very difficult situation. -
この島は観光開発がされて以来、観光客が増え続け、ビーチの環境は悪くなるばかりだ。
Since this island underwent tourism development, tourists have kept increasing, and the beach environment has only gotten worse. -
若い夫婦が子供を産まないことによって、少子化の問題はますます深刻化するばかりだ。
Because young couples are not having children, the problem of Japan's declining birth rate is becoming increasingly serious.
Summary
- Formed with dictionary form verb + ばかりだ
- Expresses continuous negative trends or worsening situations
- Unlike 一方だ, ばかりだ is specifically used for negative or deteriorating conditions only