JLPT N4 Grammar
· Elementary
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· Elementary
only; nothing but (negative)
Category: Degree & Limits
The grammar pattern ～しか～ない (shika~nai) is used to emphasize that there is nothing else besides the mentioned item. It is often used to convey that something is the only option or that there is no alternative. This pattern is typically followed by a negative verb, which indicates that the situation or condition is not met. For example, if someone asks you where you went on vacation, and you reply with "海岸にしか行きませんでした" (I only went to the coast), it means that you didn't go anywhere else besides the coast. This pattern is useful for expressing that something is the sole or exclusive option, and it's often used in situations where you want to convey a sense of uniqueness or singularity.
| Form | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Negative verb | ～しか～ない | 行きません (ikimasen) |
| Negative verb | ～しか～ない | 見ません (mimasen) |
| Negative verb | ～しか～ない | 食べません (tabemasen) |
財布の中に百円しかありません。
Zaisuu no naka ni hyaku-en shika arimasen.
There's only 100 yen in my wallet.
財布の中に (in my wallet), 百円しか (only 100 yen), ありません (there is not)
この秘密はあなたにしか教えません。
Kono himitsu wa anata ni shika oshiemasen.
I'll only tell this secret to you.
この秘密は (this secret), あなたにしか (only to you), 教えません (I won't tell)
日曜日なのに、一時間しか勉強しませんでした。
Nichiyōbi na no ni, ichijikan shika benkyō shimasen deshita.
I didn't study for more than an hour on Sunday.
日曜日なのに (on Sunday), 一時間しか (only for an hour), 勉強しませんでした (I didn't study)
この店では、コーヒーしか飲めません。
Kono mise de wa, kōhī shika nomemasen.
You can only drink coffee here.
この店では (at this store), コーヒーしか (only coffee), 飲めません (you can't drink)
The grammar pattern ～しか～ない is used to emphasize that there is nothing else besides the mentioned item. It's often used in situations where you want to convey a sense of uniqueness or singularity. This pattern is typically followed by a negative verb, which indicates that the situation or condition is not met. In terms of register, this pattern is used in informal situations, and it's often used in spoken language. In comparison with similar patterns, ～しか～ない is different from ～だけ (dake) in that ～だけ takes positive verbs, whereas ～しか～ない takes negative verbs.
Using a positive verb instead of a negative verb will change the meaning of the sentence. For example, "海岸にしか行きました" (I only went to the coast) is incorrect because it uses a positive verb, whereas the correct sentence is "海岸にしか行きませんでした" (I only went to the coast).
～だけ (dake) takes positive verbs, whereas ～しか～ない takes negative verbs. For example, "この本は日本語だけです" (This book is only in Japanese) uses ～だけ (dake), whereas "この本は日本語しかありません" (This book is only in Japanese) uses ～しか～ない.
Placing other particles between 'shika' and the noun will change the meaning of the sentence. For example, "この本しかありません" (There's only this book) is incorrect because it places a particle between 'shika' and the noun, whereas the correct sentence is "この本しかありません" (There's only this book).
When taking the JLPT N4 exam, pay attention to the grammar pattern ～しか～ない and make sure to use the correct negative verb. Also, be careful not to confuse it with ～だけ (dake), and make sure to place 'shika' immediately before the noun.
財布の中に百円______ありません。
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