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Japanese Grammar: ~たことがあります|Expressing Past Experience|JLPT N5

2024年2月24日土曜日

Elementary grammar N5

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In this lesson, you will learn how to use the Japanese grammar 〜たことがあります.

You are talking with a friend about winter vacation plans.
Your friend wants to go skiing in Hokkaido during the winter vacation.

You have experience skiing in Hokkaido, and you want to share your experience with your friend to help her/his plan.

In such a case, you can say like this:
私は北海道でスキーをしたことがあります (わたしは ほっかいどうで スキーを したことがあります)。 いいところを知っていますよ(いいところを しっていますよ)。

Today let's learn about "〜たことがあります".


👉<Use>

"〜たことがあります" is used to state that you have had the experience of doing something.

"私は北海道でスキーをしたことがあります" means "I have skied in Hokkaido."


👉<Form>

The conjugation adds "ことがあります" to the verb た form.

 します → した → したことがあります

・💁 Explanation of Verb た form ↓↓


It may also be used with words that express frequency, such as ~度(ど) or ~回(かい).

I have skied three times.

I have never skied.

⚠ It is not used with words that indicate a point in time, such as last year or yesterday.

✕ I have skied last year.


👉<Examples>

I have seen pandas at the zoo.

I have participated in a festival in Japan.

I have made a snowman.

I have had a pet.

I have traveled solo abroad.

I have climbed Mt. Fuji three times.

I have had Japanese soba.

I have lost my wallet twice.

Have you ever read this book?

Yes, I have.

Have you ever heard this song?

No, I haven't.

Suggested Study Material

Genki I (Beginner Japanese)

This grammar point is explained in Genki I (Lesson11), a widely used beginner textbook for learning Japanese.

Check textbook details

※Genki is available worldwide on Amazon. If the link does not work in your country, you can also search “Genki I” on your local Amazon.

Speaking Practice

Practice Japanese on italki

If you want to practice this grammar in real conversation, learning with a tutor can help you improve faster. Many learners find that regular speaking practice is the fastest way to become confident in Japanese.

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