Japanese Grammar 〜たことがある

Japanese Grammar – Talking about Past Experience using 〜たことがある – Review Notes

Today, we will learn how to use 〜たことがある (~ta koto ga aru) to talk about past experiences. In order to understand today’s grammar, you will need to have knowledge of the plain past form of verbs also known as た-form.

If you don’t know this, please see this other lesson first: http://www.punipunijapan.com/japanese-ta-form/

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★　Today we will learn how to talk about past experiences using 〜たことがある (~ta koto ga aru).

★　To understand today’s grammar, you will need to first understand the plain form of verbs. Check out this lesson first: http://www.punipunijapan.com/japanese-ta-form/

★　First, let’s start with a sentence using the plain past verb form.

★　私は寿司を食べた (watashi wa sushi o tabeta) means “I ate sushi”.

★　食べた (tabeta) = past tense of 食べる (taberu) – the verb “to eat”

★　This example simply expresses a past action.

★　If we add ことがある to the end of that sentence, the meaning changes to express experience.

★　私は寿司を食べたことがあります (watashi wa sushi o tabeta koto ga arimasu) – “I have eaten sushi.”

★　If you want to express a lack of experience, all you have to do is change ある to ない

★　Or, if you are using formal speech, change あります to ありません or ないです

★　私は寿司を食べたことがありません (watashi wa sushi o tabeta koto ga arimasen) – “I have never eaten sushi.”

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Making a Question (Have you ever~?):

★　To make the question “Have you ever~?” in Japanese, all you have to do is add か (ka) to the end of the sentence. For example:

寿司を食べたことがありますか。

Sushi o tabeta koto ga arimasu ka?

Have (you) ever eaten sushi?

★　In casual Japanese, particles are often omitted. In this case, you can omit the particles を and が (ga)

寿司食べたことある？

Sushi tabeta koto aru?

Have (you) ever eaten sushi?

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More Example Sentences:

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日本に行ったことがありますか。

Nihon ni itta koto ga arimasu ka?

Have you ever been to Japan?

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私は京都に行ったことがあります。

Watashi wa Kyōto ni itta koto ga arimasu.

I have been to Kyoto before.

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こんな面白い本、読んだことがない。

Konna omoshiroi hon, yonda koto ga nai.

I have never read such an interesting book before.

(This is the most interesting book I’ve ever read.)

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Conclusion:

That’s it for today’s Japanese grammar lesson! If you have any questions, please leave a comment below!

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