Grammar Info

N2 Lesson 9: 13/23

だけはTo do all that one can, As much or many ~ as one could

Structure

Verb + だけ + Verb[た](*)
Verb + だけ + Verb[ている](*)

(*) The same Verb has to be repeated

Details

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About だけは

だけは is another one of the many grammar patterns in Japanese that includes the particle だけ, meaning 'just' or 'only'. In this particular structure, だけ pairs with は, and presents a specific verb as the topic to indicate that it is being done 'as much as one can'. The same verb will be repeated both before and after だけは, with the one coming second usually appearing in its past-tense or ている form.

Imagining that the target verb was ()べる 'to eat', the literal translation of something like ()べるだけは()べた would be 'I ate just what I could eat'. Because this pattern frequently discusses possibilities, it is also very common for the first verb to be in the potential れる or られる form.

Caution

It is also relatively common to see する omitted following the first verb, and only being used after だけは. In this kind of pattern, the target verb itself will not usually be repeated after だけは.

  • 勉強(べんきょう)だけはしたが、全然(ぜんぜん)(あたま)情報(じょうほう)(はい)ってこなかった。
    I studied as much as I could, but I didn't get any information in my head.
  • 先輩(せんぱい)には何回(なんかい)連絡(れんらく)だけはしているが、全然(ぜんぜん)返事(へんじ)をしてくれない。
    I have been trying to contact my senpai as much as I could, but he won't respond at all.

Examples

--:--

    ()べられるだけは()べた()放題(ほうだい)だからさ。

    I ate all that I could. It was an all you can eat after all.

    このナッツを(くだ)だけは(くだ)いた

    I crushed these nuts as much as I could.

    儀式(ぎしき)だからやるだけはやっているが、さっぱり意味(いみ)()からない。

    Since it is a ceremony, I am doing as much as I can. However, I have no idea what any of it means.

    感想(かんそう)()だけは()いてみたが、まだメールで(おく)っていません。

    I wrote out my impressions the best I could, but I still haven't sent it out (via email).

    今日(きょう)()たい(ふく)(かわ)かすだけは(かわ)かして(いえ)()た。

    I dried the clothes I want to wear today as much as I could and then left the house.

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