Japatan
Formation
- V辞書形 + ばかりだ
Explanation
This shows that a situation keeps changing in a bad direction. It follows the dictionary form of verbs of change, such as 悪くなる, 増える and 減る, and expresses the speaker's worry or frustration. It is close to 一方だ, but ばかりだ is usually not used for good changes.
Examples
話し合いをしても、二人の関係は 悪くなるばかりだ。
Even when they talk it over, their relationship just keeps getting worse.
雨は 強くなるばかりで、試合は中止になった。
The rain kept getting heavier, and the game was canceled.
片付けをしないので、部屋は 汚くなるばかりだ。
I never tidy up, so my room just keeps getting messier.
円が安くなって、海外旅行の費用は 高くなるばかりだ。
With the weaker yen, the cost of traveling abroad just keeps rising.
Notes
Do not confuse it with Vたばかりだ ("just did") or Nばかり ("only N"). For good changes, such as grades improving, use 一方だ instead.
Related grammar
Mini quiz
1毎日遅くまで働いて、疲れは（ ）ばかりだ。
Answer and explanation
Answer: 3 たまる
ばかりだ for change follows the dictionary form. The sentence means "Working late every day, my tiredness just keeps building up."
2説明を聞けば聞くほど、分からなく（ ）。
Answer and explanation
Answer: 1 なるばかりだ
なるばかりだ means "keep becoming." The sentence means "The more I listen to the explanation, the more confused I get." なったばかりだ means "just became," which does not fit, なりつつだ is not a correct form, and なるところだ ("about to become") does not match 聞けば聞くほど.
3車が増えて、家の前の道は危なく（ ）。
Answer and explanation
Answer: 4 なるばかりだ
危なくなるばかりだ means the road keeps getting more dangerous: "With more cars, the road in front of my house keeps getting more dangerous." ばかりか and ばかりに need another clause after them, and なってばかりだ is not used for change.
