English translation:
To emphasize ‘~only’
nothing but
Structure:
Noun + だけしか + ない
Explanation:
Compound particle made of “だけ” and “しか”.
English translation:
To emphasize ‘~only’
nothing but
Structure:
Noun + だけしか + ない
Explanation:
Compound particle made of “だけ” and “しか”.
I’ve got a quick question about one of the example sentences.
私には従兄弟が一人だけしかいません。
I only have one cousin.
What is the に doing here beside 私?
This is alternative construction, you can use either 私には従兄弟が一人だけしかいません and 私は従兄弟が一人だけしかいません.
Both mean the same thing.
It is exactly the same as in:
東京には外国人がたくさんいます。
東京は外国人がたくさんいます。
to make things easier by analogy, you can think of yourself as location of cousin.
Literally: I have only one cousin with me.
I hope it helps,
Cheers!
Ah, it makes sense. Thank you!
These example sentences under the explanation confused me:
Only Saturdays aren’t busy, so if possible Saturday is preferable.
In this group, Takeshi is the only one that isn’t good. Everyone else is considerably skilled.
Why is this cup the only one that isn’t 500yen?
Am i just confused? Shouldn’t the translation be that only Saturdays are busy, and Takeshi is the only one who is good, and only this cup is 500 yen?