Japanese Grammar – I only like dogs. I do not like cats. 🇯🇵

いぬ____が すき です。ねこ が すき じゃない です。

"だけ" is a particle in Japanese that means "only" or "just." It is used to indicate that the statement is exclusively limited to the noun or phrase it follows.

### Explanation:

1. Usage of "だけ":
– "だけ" is placed directly after a noun to specify that the statement applies exclusively to that noun.
– In your provided sentence, "いぬ" (dog) is the noun, and "だけ" specifies that the liking is limited to dogs only.

2. Sentence Structure:
– The structure of the sentence with "だけ" should be: [Noun] だけ [Verb]。
– In this case: "いぬ だけ が すき です。" (I only like dogs.)

3. Contrast with Negative Statement:
– The statement is contrasted with what follows: "ねこ が すき じゃない です。" (I do not like cats.)
– This contrast helps to reinforce the exclusivity indicated by "だけ."

### Example

– いぬ だけ が すき です。
– Romanized: Inu dake ga suki desu.
– Translation: I only like dogs.

– ねこ が すき じゃない です。
– Romanized: Neko ga suki janai desu.
– Translation: I do not like cats.

### Other Considerations:

– "しか"
– Another particle that can be used to express exclusivity is "しか," but it is typically used with a negative verb form to imply "nothing but" or "only."
– Example: "いぬ しか すき じゃない。"
– Translation: I don't like anything but dogs.

However, for positive statements or those not using negative verbs, "だけ" is the appropriate particle.

Romanization and literal translation can also help learners to understand and internalize the usage of "だけ" in sentences.

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