So it's official, no more sun, no more going to the beach... at least where I live.

I really like autumn, although it also kinda gets me a little melancholic. Must be the weather.

But instead of regretting the things I can't do anymore because of the dropping temperature, I decided to think of all the things that I can do precisely because it's autumn. And here goes the autumn checklist, or:

秋にしかできないこと。
あき　に　しか　できない　こと。
Things you can do only in the autumn.
Literally: 'Autumn + に + only (~しか) + can't do + things'

...And also, I want to use this lesson to teach you a little more about expressing potential actions.

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So here we go:

(に)しかできない
(に)　しか　できない
1. Can do only during [time period]
2. Only x can do
*Literally: '(に) + only + can't do'

* Psss, hey, I know, the way they say it in Japanese makes it sound like the exact opposite, like 'Only X can't do something' or 'Only [during that time] one can't do something.' But that's just because, as you probably already concluded, literal translation sucks.

So, meaning no. 1:

(に)しかできない。
(に)　しか　できない。
Can do only in/during [time-period]
Literally: '(に) + only + can't do'

Now. Depending on the type of time period you use this expression with or without に.

You use にしかできない with things you can do only in/during the (autumn, winter, spring, summer, summer break, Christmas, etc.)

So:

夏休みにしかできない。
なつやすみ　に　しか　できない。
[Something] you can do only during summer vacation.
Literally: 'summer vacation + in + only + can't do'

2020年にしかできないこと。
にせんにじゅう　ねん　に　しか　できない　こと。
Things you can only do in the year 2020.
Literally: 'Year 2020 + in + only + can't do'

クリスマスにしかできないこと。
くりすます　に　しか　できない　こと。
Things you can only do during Christmas.
Literally: 'Christmas + in + only + can't do'

And you use ～しかできない with things you can do only [today, tomorrow, this year, this month], with nothing like 'in' or 'during' in front of it.

今年しかできないこと。
ことし　しか　できない　こと。
Things you can do only this year
Literally: 'this year + only + can't do'

今月しかできないこと。
こんげつ　しか　できない　こと。
Things you can do only this month
Literally: 'This month + only + can't do'

明日しかできないこと。
あした　しか　できない。
Things you can do only tomorrow.
Literally: 'Tomorrow + only + can't do'

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Meaning no. 2:

Here things are a little easier.

Xにしかできないこと。
X　に　しか　できない　こと。
Things only [person X] can do.
Literally: 'X + に + only + can't do + thing'

So...

あなたにしかできないこと。
あなた　に　しか　できない　こと。
Things only you can do.
Literally: 'You + に + only + can't do'

子供にしかできないこと。
こども　に　しか　できない　こと。
Things only children can do
Literally: 'Children + に + only + can't do'

神にしかできないこと。
かみ　に　しか　できない　こと。
Things only Gods can do
Literally: 'God / Gods + に + only + can't do'

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Phew, that took longer than I expected.

But now that we got it all sorted out, let's see what are some little things we can do only in the autumn.

秋にしかできないこと。
あき　に　しか　できない　こと。
Things you can do only in the autumn:
Literally: 'Autumn + に + only + can't do'

栗を食べる。
くり　を　たべる。
Eat chestnuts
Literally: 'Chestnuts + を + eat'

落ち葉で遊ぶ。
おちば　で　あそぶ。
Play with fallen leaves.
Literally: 'Fallen leaves + で + play.'

And of course, last but not least...

ハロウィーンで盛り上がる。
はろうぃーん　で　もりあがる。
Get hyped up for Halloween.
Literally: 'Halloween + で + get excited + (to)'

So leave your regrets for the bygone summer behind, and embrace the joys of autumn!

Have fun with your studies, make sure you don't fall behind! :))

See you next time!

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This lesson was written by Adriana, a guest contributor.