I. Behind a noun:
II. Behind a verb:
- N + だけ + positive ending = only, just, merely, alone
魚だけ(を)食べた。(He) ate only fish.
- N + だけ + negative predicate = only, just, merely, alone
クリスだけ来なかった。Only Chris didn't come.
- noun-X + だけで(は)なく + (noun-Y も) = ばかりでなく= not only X but also Y
学生だけでなく、先生も来ました。Not only students but also teachers came.
III. Behind an adjective:
- Verb-nonpast-plain + だけ = something is the only thing that happens / happened / needs to happen.
彼女は笑うだけで、なにも言わなかった。
All she did was to laugh, and didn't say a word.
準備はできました。もう食べるだけです。It's all ready to eat.- Verb-nonpast-plain + だけ= as much as, as many as, just enough
電話をかけるだけの金はある。I have just enough money to make a phone call.
- Verb-past-plain + だけ = That's all (I) did.
魚を食べただけです。All I did was eat fish.
- Adjective + だけ+ に= as expected of
東大を出ただけに、頭がいい。
As expected of someone from Tokyo University, she is brilliant.
- Adjective + だけでなく(・・・も) = not only ・・・but also ・・・
きれいなだけでなく、安い or 安くもある。
It's not only pretty but also inexpensive.
安かっただけでなく、おいしかった or おいしくもあった。It was not only inexpensive but delicious.
※It usually replaces を、が、は (except for special emphasis). When it does not replace them, だけ precedes them.
ピカソだけ(を)見ました。I only saw Picasso.
スミスさんだけ(が)来ました。Only Smith-san came.
それだけ(は)言えません。I cannot tell you that (only that).※It never occurs with も。
※It may appear with particles such as に、で、の、と、へ、まで、から。When it appears with these particles, だけ may precede or follows them.
田中さんだけに言いました。(I) told it only to Tanaka-san.
田中さんにだけ言いました。(I) told it only to Tanaka-san.