JLPT N5

ことがある

Have done ~ (experience)

Structure

Verb た-form ことがある

How it works

This grammar point is used to express past experience, equivalent to saying 'I have done' or 'have had the experience of' in English. It requires the Verb た-form (past plain form) followed by ことがある. Without the た-form, the meaning changes completely to 'sometimes do'.

Examples

日本に行ったことがあります。

I have been to Japan.

納豆を食べたことがありますか。

Have you ever eaten natto?

富士山に登ったことがありません。

I have never climbed Mt. Fuji.

Common mistakes

Mixing up the verb forms. Using the Dictionary form (e.g., 行くことがある) means 'I sometimes go' rather than 'I have been'. Always use the た-form for experience.

Tip

To emphasize that you have 'never' done something, you can add the word '一度も' (ichido mo) at the beginning of the sentence.

More JLPT N5 grammar

はがをにでものと

See ことがある in real Japanese

Import an article and tap any sentence using it. The explanation comes back about the sentence in front of you, not a textbook example.

Try InputDojo free