Meaning
Shows that there is nothing except what is mentioned. It is always followed by a negative form.
Formation
- It replaces を and が after the word: 牛乳しかありません
- The predicate must be negative
When to use it
- Core use
- Only this, nothing else
Example
冷蔵庫に牛乳しかありません
There is only milk in the refrigerator.
Important notes
- Pay attention to the word form before the construction and to the particles around it.
Common mistakes
- Do not translate the pattern word for word; first identify its function in the whole situation.