Verb + だけ
だけ can be used to stress amounts with verbs as well. Although だけ usually means “only” here it has a meaning closer to “as much as”. There’s a few different patterns with slightly different nuances, so let’s take a look.
Potential Form ＋だけ
As much I can
Potential form Verb + だけ
With potential form verbs, this pattern means “as much as possible”.
- 飲めるだけ飲んでみる – I’ll try to drink as much as I can.
- 食べられるだけご飯を食べてみる – I’ll try to eat as much food as I can eat.
- できるだけやる – I’ll do as much as I can.
- 片づけられるだけ片づける – I’ll clean up as much as I can.
But be careful as this pattern may also mean “Only as much as” when used about others.
- 食べられるだけ食べていい – Its ok to only eat as much as you can. (Don’t force yourself).
- 走れるだけ走って – Only run as much as you can.
できるだけ is a phrase using this pattern. Any verb may come after できる, as it is the potential form of the generic verb する。
- できるだけ説得してみる – I’ll try to convince them as much as I can.
- できるだけのことはやる – I’ll do as much as I can.
Dictionary Form + だけ
As much as I can but..
Dictionary form Verb + だけ
With a dictionary form verb, だけ means “As much as I can but…”.
It usually indicates a small amount. It is somewhat pessimistic.
This pattern kind of adds a “I don’t know” or “I’ll try…” meaning to the verb before だけ。
This pattern tends to be used as だけは more than potential + だけ. (See below)
- 飲むだけ飲んでみる – I will try to drink, but I don’t know. (Pessimistic)
- やってみるだけやる – I’m only going to test it out.
- 読むだけは読む – I will read it, but I don’t know.. (maybe you won’t understand it).
たい form + だけ
As much as you want
たい form + だけ
たい form with だけ is pretty straightforward, meaning “as much as you want“.
Typically used about other people.
- 取りたいだけ取って – Take as much as you want.
- 飲みたいだけ飲んで – Drink as much as you want.
だけは
You may also see these patterns as Verb + だけは + Verb.
The meaning is more or less the same, but the contrastive は’s nuance comes into play.
In other words, there may be some point of comparison left unspoken.
References
StackExchange (Potential + だけ vs Plain + だけ)