I.  Behind a noun:

• N + ばかり(= だけ) = only N, something is the only thing (that there is/ happens)
毎日雨ばかりで、いやになります。
All it does is to rain everyday; it's disgusting.
あの人は勉強 ばかりしていて、ぜんぜん遊ばない。
All he does is to study and doesn't goof off at all.
 
• amount + ばかり= approximately, about
一年ばかりアメリカに住んでいました。(I) lived in the U.S. for about a year.
三年ばかり前に、その本を読みました。(I) read that book about three years ago.
 
※Other words to express an approximate amount are: ほど、くらい、ぐらい、やく.  Go to hodo (ほど)    Go to kurai / gurai (くらい／ぐらい)
 
• これ／それ／あれ + ばかり= with regard to this/that particular (situation)
こればかりは他の人にたのめない。This cannot be done by someone else.
そればかりではどうしようもない。Just that much will not do.
 
• noun + particle + ばかり= only N, something is the only thing (that happens)
先生は田中さんとばかり話していて、他の学生と話してくれない。
The teacher talks only with Tanaka, and not with other students.
 
※ばかりreplaces the particles が and を, but へand に may be either omitted or kept.  Other particles do not drop when ばかりis added behind it.
 
• noun + と+ ばかり + 思う= one had firmly believed/thought
テストは今日とばかり思っていました。
I was certain that the test will be given today.
 
• noun1 + ばかりで（は）なく + (noun2 も) = ばかりか = not only X but also Y
学生 ばかりでなく、先生も来ました。
Not only students but also teachers came.
あの人は日本語ばかりかフランス語も話せる。
That person speaks not only Japanese but also French.
 

• Verb-nonpast-plain + ばかり= something is the only thing that happens / happened / needs to happen.
彼女は笑うばかりで、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。もう食べるばかりです。It's all ready to eat.
 
• Verb-plain + ばかり+ に= just/only because . . .
お金があるばかりに、よくだまされる。
Just because he has money, he is often deceived.
財布を忘れたばかりに、電車に乗れなかった。
Just because I forgot to take my wallet, I couldn't get on the train.
 
• Verb-てform + ばかり＝something is the only thing that is done
彼女は笑ってばかりいて、何も言いませんでした。
She only laughed and didn't say anything.
 
• Verb-past-plain + ばかり= something had just happened
今始まったばかりです。It just started.
 
• Verb-plain + と+ ばかり + 思う = one had firmly believed/thought
結婚するとばかり思っていました。
I was sure that (she) would get married.
もう行ったとばかり思っていました。I thought you had already gone.
 
• V-plain + ばかりでなく・・・も = not only ・・・but also ・・・
就職するばかりでなく、結婚もする。
(He) is not only getting a job, but also getting married.
昨日来たばかりでなく、今日も来た。
(She) came not only yesterday but also today.
 

• Adjective + ばかり + で = only, merely, just, simply
忙しいばかりで、お金にならない。I'm busy, but can't make money.
きれいなばかりで、役にたたない。it's just pretty, but useless.
 
• Adjective + ばかり+ に= just/only because . . .
背が高いばかりに、めだってしかたがない。
Just because (she) is tall, she stands out more than she wishes.
 
• Adjective + と + ばかり + 思う = one had firmly believed/thought
高いとばかり思っていました。I was sure that it would be expensive.
たいへんだったとばかり思っていました。
I had thought that it was difficult.
 
• Adjective + ばかりでなく（・・・も） = not only ・・・but also ・・・
きれいなばかりでなく、安い or 安くもある。
It's not only pretty but also inexpensive.
安かったばかりでなく、おいしかった。
It was not only inexpensive but delicious.