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

  • 品詞

    表現

  • 単語の種類

    動詞

  • 使用域

    一般

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.
  • 富士山(ふじさん)へ行(い)ったことがある？
    Have you ever been to Mt. Fuji before?
  • 私(わたし)はお菓子(かし)を買(か)ったことが無(な)い。
    I have never bought snacks.
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.
  • 彼(かれ)は踊(おど)ることができる。
    He can do things like dance.
  • 来週(らいしゅう)は休(やす)みだから旅行(りょこう)へ行(い)くことにする。
    Because I have no work next week, I have decided to go traveling.
  • 今日(きょう)は帰(かえ)るのが遅(おそ)くなることになる。
    Today, I will end up coming home late.

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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たことがある – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (19 in total)

  • Matt_RWR

    Matt_RWR

    During my reviews, this sentence came up.
    ‘結婚けっこんしたことがありますか’

    Fair enough.
    But my answer of
    結婚けっこんをしたことがありますか

    This was rejected. Am I missing something? I thought you could use an を after a suru noun.

    Have I misunderstood something?

  • mrnoone

    mrnoone

    @Matt_RWR
    Hey Matt,
    I have added it as an alternative answer.
    The meaning is the same.

    The difference is that when you use するVerb + する you cannot modify (describe) the するverb with noun or adjective, with するVerbを + する you can.

    Example:
    数学の勉強する not natural
    数学の勉強をする natural

    幸せな結婚する not natural
    幸せな結婚をする natural

    But you can say:
    数学を勉強をする natural

    Cheers

  • Matt_RWR

    Matt_RWR

    Ah - I never knew that. Thanks for the info and for adding the alternative!

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