Grammar Info

N5 Lesson 10: 1/12

～たことがあるHave done before

Structure

Verb［た］+ こと + が + ある
Verb［た］+ こと + が + ない

Details

  • Part of Speech

    Expression

  • Word Type

    Verb

  • Register

    Standard

About たことがある

たことがある is a set expression in Japanese that is used for saying that 'there has been a time that I have done (A)'.

The auxiliary verb た will be added to the verb indicating what you have done, followed by こと - が - ある. Like の, こと is regularly used for nominalization (creating a noun-like phrase). However, の cannot replace こと in this particular grammar pattern.

From these examples, we can see that ない (the negative equivalent of ある) may also be used, when you want to express that you have 'never' done something.

Caution

Just like English, many set phrases cannot be adjusted in Japanese (in the same way that こと cannot be swapped with の in this expression).

Fun Fact

In expressions where こと is followed by a verb phrase, の may not be used. When used for nominalization, の is almost always followed by a noun or adjective phrase. Here are some examples.

Related

Examples

--:--

    ここでサッカーをしたことがありますか。

    Have you ever played soccer here before?

    日本(にほん)に行(い)ったことがありますか。

    Have you ever been to Japan before?

    この本(ほん)を読(よ)んだことがある。

    I have read this book before.

    私(わたし)の家(いえ)を見(み)たことがありますか。

    Have you ever seen my house before?

    ６(ろく)時(じ)前(まえ)に起(お)きたことがない。

    I have never woken up before six o'clock.

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