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Breakdown of 〜koto ga aru
がga
subject particle
あるaru
to exist; to have; (used for non-living entities)
〜こと〜koto
thing; situation; verb nominalizer
Usages of 〜koto ga aru
日本語 で 手紙 を 書いたこと が ある。nihongo de tegami wo kaitakoto ga aru.
I have written a letter in Japanese before.
山 を 登ったこと が ある。yama wo nobottakoto ga aru.
I have climbed a mountain before.
川 で 泳いだこと が ある。kawa de oyoidakoto ga aru.
I have swum in a river before.
花火 を 見たこと が ある。hanabi wo mitakoto ga aru.
I have seen fireworks before.
飛行機 で 旅行したこと が ない。hikouki de ryokousitakoto ga nai.
I haven't (ever) traveled by an airplane.
牛乳 を 飲んだこと が ありません か。gyuunyuu wo nondakoto ga arimasen ka.
Have you never drunk (cow's) milk?
こんな 料理 を 食べたこと が あります か。konna ryouri wo tabetakoto ga arimasu ka.
Have you ever eaten this kind of dish?
そんな 話 を 聞いたこと が ない。sonna hanasi wo kiitakoto ga nai.
I've never heard such a story.
私 は 一度 も 地震 を 経験したこと が ない。watasi ha itido mo zisin wo keikensitakoto ga nai.
I have never experienced an earthquake. (not even once)
彼 は 戦争 を 経験したこと が ある。kare ha sensou wo keikensitakoto ga aru.
He has experienced war.
私 は 一度 だけ その 映画 を 見たこと が あります。watasi ha itido dake sono eiga wo mitakoto ga arimasu.
I have watched that movie only once.
生 卵 を 食べたこと が あります か?nama tamago wo tabetakoto ga arimasu ka?
Have you ever eaten a raw egg?
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“How do verb conjugations work in Japanese?”
Japanese verbs conjugate based on tense, politeness, and mood. For example, the polite present form adds ‑ます to the verb stem, while the past tense uses ‑ました. Unlike English, Japanese verbs don't change based on the subject — the same form works for "I", "you", and "they".
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