Lesson 115 of 126

The lesson

12.3 〜たことがある, 〜ことがある

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Overview

This lesson covers two uses of ～ことがある: with the past verb form to express life experiences ("have done before"), and with the present form to express occasional occurrence ("sometimes happens").

～ことがある — sometimes / have the experience of

～ことがある is used to say that something has happened before or sometimes happens. It describes experience or occasional occurrence, without a specific time.

。

I have been to Japan.

。

It sometimes rains at night.

1. Past experience (“have done before”)

When used with the past form, ～ことがある expresses life experience.

Verb (past) + ことがある
Verb (past) + ことがない

。

I have eaten sushi.

。

I have traveled abroad alone.

。

I have worked in Japan.

。

I have memorized more than 1,000 kanji.

。

I have studied until morning before.

To say you have never done something, negate the verb:

。

I have never given a presentation in Japanese.

。

I have never lied even once.

。

I have never climbed Mt. Fuji.

This usage corresponds closely to the English present perfect (“have done”).

。

I have never given a presentation in Japanese.

2. Occasional events (“sometimes happens”)

～ことがある can also describe things that happen occasionally, not regularly. It literally translates to “X is a thing that exists.”

Verb (present/negative) + こと + が/も+ ある
い-adjective (present/negative) + こと + が/も+ ある
な-adjective + な/じゃない + こと + が/も+ ある

。

This shop is sometimes closed.

。

He sometimes gets angry suddenly.

。

Trains are sometimes late.

。

Sometimes I’m too busy to contact you.

。

This road can be dangerous at night sometimes.

。

Sometimes the explanation is hard to understand.

。

Sometimes he doesn’t come.

Dialogue

にっぽん日本にいった行ったことがあります。すし寿司をたべた食べたことがありますか。ふじやま富士山にのぼった登ったことはまだありません。ひとり一人でかいがいりょこう海外旅行をしたことがあります。にほんご日本語でてがみ手紙をかいた書いたことがあります。あさ朝までべんきょう勉強したことがなんどか何度かあります。いちど一度もうそをついた嘘をついたことがありません。このみち道はよる夜になるとあぶない危ないことがあります。でんしゃ電車がおくれる遅れることがあるので、はやめに早めにしゅっぱつ出発します。かれ彼はきゅうに急におこる怒ることがあるので、きをつけています気をつけています。いそがしくて忙しくてれんらく連絡できないこともあります。せつめい説明がわかりにくい分かりにくいこともあるので、しつもん質問してください。

I have been to Japan. Have you ever eaten sushi? I have never climbed Mt. Fuji yet. I have traveled abroad alone. I have written a letter in Japanese. I have studied until morning several times. I have never lied even once. This road can be dangerous at night sometimes. The train is sometimes late, so I leave early. He sometimes gets angry suddenly, so I'm careful. Sometimes I'm too busy to get in touch. Sometimes the explanation is hard to understand, so please ask questions.

Grammar

Title	Description
～ことがある	～ことがある — have the experience of; there are times when (past or present form)

12.2 ～の, ～こと, 〜もの

12.4 ～ことはない

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