～ばかりだ・～ばかりで — Only getting worse; 'all that's left is…'; 'only… and not…' | JLPT N3 grammar

Meaning

1) Vる＋ばかりだ: things keep changing for the worse with no end in sight. 2) あとは＋Vる＋ばかりだ: everything is ready and only the last step remains. 3) Vる＋ばかりで、〜ない: someone does only one thing and fails to do what is needed; it sounds like a reproach. Not to be confused with Vたばかり 'have just done'. Meaning 3 is close to Vてばかりいる, but ばかりで immediately contrasts it with what the person doesn't do.

Formation

Vる＋ばかりだ: 増える → 増えるばかりだ
Aい → Aくなる＋ばかりだ: 悪い → 悪くなるばかりだ
Aな → Aになる＋ばかりだ: 複雑 → 複雑になるばかりだ
あとは＋Vる＋ばかりだ ('all that's left is') — 待つ → あとは待つばかりだ
Past and polite: ばかりだった／ばかりです: 悪くなる → 悪くなるばかりだった
Vる＋ばかりで、〜ない ('only… and not…'): 文句を言う → 文句を言うばかりで、何もしない

When to use it

Where to use it: 1) Complaints and worrying news: 状況は悪くなるばかりだ 'the situation keeps getting worse'. 2) The end of preparations: 準備はできた、あとは本番を待つばかりだ. 3) Reproach: 見ているばかりで、手伝わない 'just watches and doesn't help'.
Where not to use it: Not for 'have just done' (Vたばかり). For a neutral or positive trend, 一方だ or ていく sound more natural. A habit with no contrast ('plays all day long') is usually expressed with Vてばかりいる.

Examples

20 sentences

雨あめがやまず、川かわの水みずは増えるふえるばかりだ。
The rain won't stop, and the river just keeps rising.
何度なんど話し合ってもはなしあっても、二人ふたりの関係かんけいは悪くわるくなるばかりだった。
No matter how many times they talked it over, their relationship only got worse.
ルールが増えてふえて、手続きてつづきは複雑にふくざつになるばかりです。
With more and more rules, the paperwork just keeps getting more complicated.
このままでは、借金しゃっきんはふくらむばかりだよ。
If things go on like this, your debt will just keep growing.
どうして物価ぶっかは上がるあがるばかりなんだろう？
Why do prices just keep going up?
荷物にもつも詰めたつめたし、あとは出発しゅっぱつを待つまつばかりだ。
The bags are packed; all that's left is to wait for departure.
生地きじはもうこねたから、あとは焼くやくばかりだ。
The dough is already kneaded, so all that's left is to bake it.
契約書けいやくしょができたので、あとはサインをもらうばかりです。
The contract is ready; all that's left is to get it signed.

12 more examples

やれることは全部ぜんぶやったから、あとは祈るいのるばかりだ。
We've done everything we could; now all we can do is pray.
工事こうじはほぼ終わりおわり、あとは家具かぐを運び込むはこびこむばかりです。
The renovation is almost finished; all that remains is to move the furniture in.
連絡れんらくがないまま、不安ふあんは大きくおおきくなるばかりだった。
With still no word, my anxiety just kept growing.
梅雨つゆに入ってはいって、洗濯物せんたくものはたまるばかりだ。
Since the rainy season started, the laundry just keeps piling up.
今年ことしは雨あめが少なくすくなく、水不足みずぶそくは深刻にしんこくになるばかりです。
There has been little rain this year, and the water shortage keeps getting more serious.
部長ぶちょうが代わってかわってから、職場しょくばの雰囲気ふんいきは悪化するあっかするばかりだ。
Since the new department head took over, the mood at work has only gotten worse.
論文ろんぶんも書き終わりかきおわり、あとは提出するていしゅつするばかりです。
The paper is written; all that's left is to hand it in.
ペンキを塗り終えたらぬりおえたら、あとは乾かすかわかすばかりだ。
Once I finish painting, all that's left is to let it dry.
式場しきじょうも予約したよやくしたし、あとは招待状しょうたいじょうを送るおくるばかりだ。
We've booked the wedding venue, so all that's left is to send out the invitations.
弟おとうとは毎日まいにちゲームをするばかりで、少しもすこしも勉強しないべんきょうしない。
My little brother does nothing but play games every day and doesn't study at all.
前まえの上司じょうしは命令するめいれいするばかりで、何なにも手伝っててつだってくれなかった。
My old boss did nothing but give orders and never helped with anything.
どうして心配するしんぱいするばかりで、病院びょういんに行かないいかないの？
Why do you just keep worrying instead of going to the hospital?

Important notes

In the change meaning it carries worry or frustration; a set exception is 期待が高まるばかりだ 'expectations keep rising'.
The 'all that's left' meaning nearly always comes with あとは: everything else is done. A casual equivalent is あとは〜だけだ.
In meaning 3 the second clause is usually negative (〜ない, 何もしない): the speaker is unhappy that what's needed isn't being done.

Common mistakes

✗ あとは結果を待ったばかりだ → ✓ あとは結果を待つばかりだ — Vたばかり means 'have just done'; 'all that's left' takes the dictionary form.
✗ 天気は悪いばかりだ → ✓ 天気は悪くなるばかりだ — you need a verb of change; turn the adjective into one with なる.
✗ 景気は悪化になるばかりだ → ✓ 景気は悪化するばかりだ — 悪化 is a する-noun: the verb 悪化する already expresses the change, so になる isn't added.

Check yourself

Pick the translation of each sentence. The wrong options translate similar patterns, so watch the grammar rather than the words.

Sentence 1: やれることは全部ぜんぶやったから、あとは祈るいのるばかりだ。 Even though he just moved, he already knows all the nearby shops.Young people keep moving away, so the town's population just keeps shrinking.We've done everything we could; now all we can do is pray.
Sentence 2: 論文ろんぶんも書き終わりかきおわり、あとは提出するていしゅつするばかりです。 I just ate lunch.Lately my overtime just keeps piling up.The paper is written; all that's left is to hand it in.
Sentence 3: どうして心配するしんぱいするばかりで、病院びょういんに行かないいかないの？ I just came to Japan.Don't you think our electricity bill just keeps going up?Why do you just keep worrying instead of going to the hospital?