しか | Grammar

Structure

[noun] + しか + [verb ない-form] [noun] + [particle] + しか + [verb ない-form] [verb (dictionary form)] + しかない

Description

しか means "only", and it always goes with a negative verb: literally "apart from X, there isn't". It follows the noun it limits, and the verb at the end is in the ない-form or ends in ません.

。

I drink nothing but water.

。

This shop only has bread.

。

He can only speak Japanese.

With an affirmative verb the sentence falls apart.

× 水しか飲みます → 水しか飲みません

しか or だけ

is a plain "only" and goes with any verb. しか adds a feeling that the amount is small, or less than you wanted.

。

I have just 100 yen.

。

I only have 100 yen.

And that isn't enough.

。

I have only one friend.

しか and particles

しか replaces が and を. Other particles stay, and しか comes after them: にしか, でしか, からしか.

。

I haven't told this to anyone but you.

。

You can only read this book in the library.

× 水をしか飲みません → 水しか飲みません

After a dictionary-form verb, しかない means "there's nothing to do but", "have no choice but". That use has its own grammar point.

。

On rainy days there's nothing to do but stay home.

Examples

。

I drink nothing but water.

。

This shop has nothing but bread.

。

He can speak nothing but Japanese.

、。

I only have 100 yen today.

。

We know no other road but this one.

。

The kids are doing nothing but playing games.

。

There is only one way to solve this problem.

。

She has only one friend.

。

You can only climb this mountain in spring.

。

You are the only one who knows this story.

。

I was thinking about nothing but the company.

。

On rainy days, there’s nothing to do but stay home.

References

Shika Hokaimabi.org