Unit 11

Making Appointments with Friends

友達と約束する(II)
Making Appointments with Friends

Lesson

[Noun/Amount] + しか + [Negative Verb]

It shows that there's nothing else besides what comes before it. However, you must always use a negative verb with しか to make the sentence work.

少ししか食べません [sukoshi shika tabemasen]
I can only eat a little.

  • 少し [sukoshi] means "a little"
  • しか [shika] means "only"
  • 食べません [tabemasen] means "I can't eat it."

野球できますか [yakyū dekimasu ka]
Can you play baseball?

  • 野球 [yakyū] means "baseball"
  • できますか [dekimasu ka] means "Can you do it?"

少ししかできません [sukoshi shika dekimasen]
I can only do a little.

  • 少ししか [sukoshi shika] means "only a little"
  • できません [dekimasen] means "I can't do it."

Conversation

  • A: 野球できますか [yakyū dekimasu ka]
    Can you play baseball?
  • B: 少ししかできません
    I can only do a little.
  • B: 料理できますか
    Can you cook?
  • A: 少ししかできません [sukoshi shika dekimasen]
    I can only do a little.
  • B: 一度食べてみたいですね〜
    I would like to try it once!