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> 私は野菜しか食べません。

apparently means "I only eat vegetables"? Shouldn't there be a negative
connotation with the ません-ending?

If that's the case what does 私は野菜しか食べます mean? Is there a special contextual
rule with exceptions or just the term しか?
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question
usage negation polarity-items
Is there a difference between ます and ません for sentences carrying an exclusive connotation(しか)?
There are good linked questions, but I think I'll try my hand at an answer.

There exist constructs and words in Japanese that either take on a different
meaning, or can only be used with a negative sentence. しか is one such
construct. It can _only_ be used with a negative sentence. It is grammatically
incorrect with a positive sentence.

For instance, ほとんど can be used in a positive sentence to mean "almost,
nearly", but in a negative sentence, it means "barely".

誰も and 何も are other examples of expressions that can only be used in negative
sentences.

In this case, you could think of it as "I don't eat anything except
vegetables".
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answer