Word
〜たこと が ある〜takoto ga aru
Meaning
to have done something before
Part of speech
verb suffix
Pronunciation
Course
Lesson
Usages of 〜takoto ga aru
友達 は まだ に ったこと が ありません。
Questions & Answers about 〜takoto ga aru
How do I form a sentence using the 〜たことがある construction?
To describe an experience you’ve had at least once, take a verb’s short past (ta-) form and add ことがある. For example, 食べる (to eat) → past = 食べた; combine to get 食べたことがある, “I have eaten (it) before.”
Can I use 〜たことがある to talk about habits or repeated actions?
No. 〜たことがある only expresses that an action happened at least once in the past. For habits or “sometimes” you use the dictionary form + ことがある, like 週末は映画を見ることがある (“Sometimes I watch movies on weekends”).
How do I make 〜たことがある negative?
To say you’ve never experienced something, use the verb’s ta-form + ことがない. For example, 行ったことがない means “I’ve never been (there).” Avoid 行かなかったことがある, which sounds like “There was a time I didn’t go.”
How do I ask a question using 〜たことがある?
Attach the question particle か at the end. For instance: 日本へ行ったことがありますか？ means “Have you ever been to Japan?”
Can I specify how many times I’ve done something with 〜たことがある?
Yes, you can insert a frequency or number before , e.g. (“I’ve been to Japan twice”). However, if you give exact counts, Japanese often prefers a simple past: instead of the experience-focused pattern.
