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Formation: V-dictionary + ばかりだ; ただ + V-dictionary + ばかりだ; あとは + V-dictionary + ばかりだ

The main use of 〜ばかりだ is with verbs of change (悪化する, 増える, 減る, 広がる). It says that something keeps moving in one direction, almost always a bad one, and the speaker sounds worried or resigned. With ただ it means someone does nothing but one thing (ただ泣くばかりだった). With あとは it means everything is ready and only one step remains (あとは出発するばかりだ). Compare 〜一方だ: it is a near-synonym for a continuing trend, but 一方だ is more neutral and can describe positive changes, while ばかりだ in this sense is strongly negative. 〜つつある only describes a change in progress, with no judgement. The register is neutral and common in news writing and essays.

Variants: ばかりで、ばかりの + N、ばかりだった

Examples

• 景気は悪くなるばかりだ。
  The economy just keeps getting worse.
• 何を聞いても、彼女はただ泣くばかりだった。
  Whatever I asked, she did nothing but cry.
• 準備は整い、あとは本番を待つばかりだ。
  Everything is ready; all that remains is to wait for the day itself.

In real texts 0 occurrence(s)

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