In this section, we are going to learn some ways to express actions that just happened. While one option is to use various adverbs such as 「たった今」, we will learn grammar that can be applied to the verb.
Example
- たった今 【たった・いま】 – just now
- たった今空港に着きましたよ。
(I) just arrived at the airport.
Expressing what just happened with 「ばかり」
In the previous section, we learned one usage of 「ばかり」 with nouns and adjectives to describe an abundance. We can also attach it to the end of the past tense of verbs to an action just completed.
Using 「ばかり」 for actions just completed
- Append 「ばかり」 to the past tense form of the verb. The result becomes a regular noun.
Examples- 食べる → 食べた＋ばかり ＝ 食べたばかり
- 買う → 買った＋ばかり ＝ 買ったばかり
- する → した＋ばかり ＝ したばかり
Example
- 昼ご飯を食べたばかりですから、おなかがいっぱいです。
(I) just ate lunch so (I’m) full. - 習ったばかりの単語を使って会話を練習する。
Using words (I) just learned and practice conversation. - 買ったばかりなのに、もう壊れるなんて信じられない。
(I) just bought it, despite that (it’s) already broken, how unbelievable. - 引っ越したばかりで、何がどこにあるか、全然分からない。
(I) just moved so (I) don’t know what’s where at all.
Same as the previous section, 「ばかり」 can be shortened to 「ばっかり」 or 「ばっか」 for casual conversations here as well.
Example
- 付き合い始めたばっかりなのに、もう別れたの？
(You) just started going out and (you) already split up? - 今、帰ってきたばっかだよ。
I just got back home now.