ばかりだ
(Only) continue to, Keep on -ing, More and more
Structure
Verb［る］+ ばかりで + Phrase
Explanation
The adverbial particle ばかり can attach to a verb in its dictionary form to express that a certain change is continuing in one direction. This structure carries the nuance that something is happening 'more and more' or 'just keeps on (A)'. It expands on the basic meaning of ばかり ('only') and is finalized with the auxiliary verb だ (or its polite form, です).
- 貯金は減っていくばかりだ。My savings just keep on decreasing.
- 最近、勉強していないので、日本語の知識が失われていくばかりだ。I haven't been studying recently, so my knowledge of Japanese just keeps on disappearing.
- 状況は悪くなるばかりです。The situation continues to worsen.
- この国の問題は増えるばかりです。This country's problems continue to grow.
As the examples above show, this pattern is almost always used with verbs that express a process of change (such as becoming more/less, better/worse, higher/lower, etc.).
If the sentence needs to continue with a second clause, だ can be changed to its conjunctive form, で, allowing the speaker to add more information.
- 仕事が増えるばかりで、今日は帰れそうにない。The work just keeps piling up, and it looks like I won't be able to go home today.
- 物価が上がるばかりで、生活が苦しくなってきた。Prices just keep on rising, and life has become difficult.
Caution
This construction with ばかり is most often used to talk about negative developments. This is a tendency, not a strict rule, as it can occasionally be used for positive ongoing changes as well.
- 怪我をしてから、体力が落ちていくばかりだ。Ever since I got injured, my physical strength just keeps declining.
- 練習を始めてから、彼女のテニスのスキルは上達していくばかりだ。Ever since she started practicing, her tennis skills have done nothing but keep on improving.
Examples
息子はサッカーが上手になるばかりだ。
My son just keeps getting better at soccer. (only)
年を取ると、記憶力は衰えるばかりだ。
As you get older, your memory just keeps getting weaker. (only)
地球温暖化のせいで、氷は溶けていくばかりだ。
Due to global warming, the ice just keeps on melting. (only)
物価は上がるばかりで、生活が苦しくなる。
Prices just keep going up, making life more difficult. (only)
この村の人口は減るばかりです。
The population of this village just continues to decrease. (only)
怪我をしてから、体力は落ちるばかりだ。
Ever since my injury, my physical strength has only been declining. (only)
会社の状況は悪化するばかりだ。早く転職しないと。
The company's situation just keeps getting worse. I need to find a new job soon. (only)
祖母の病気は重くなるばかりで、みんな心配している。
Grandma's illness is only getting more serious, and everyone is worried. (only)
再開発のせいで、家賃は高くなるばかりだ。
Because of the redevelopment, rent prices continue to rise. (only)
道路工事のせいで、交通渋滞はひどくなるばかりです。
Because of the road construction, the traffic jams are only getting worse. (only)
せっかく勉強したのに、単語は忘れていくばかりだ。
Even though I went to the trouble of studying, I just keep forgetting the vocabulary. (only)
貯金は減るばかりだ。
My savings just keep on dwindling. (only)