Experience and Occasional Actions: Using ことがある

Meaning & Usage

The expression ことことがある is a versatile N4 structure used to talk about your history or your habits. It uses ことこと as a nominalizer to turn a verb into a noun phrase. When you add the verb あるある (to exist), you are literally saying "the fact of doing [verb] exists."

Your choice of verb tense before ことこと changes the meaning entirely. Using the past tense describes a life experience. Using the dictionary form describes something that happens from time to time.

When paired with the 過去形かここけい (past tense/Ta-form), it translates to "I have [done] before." This isn't for daily chores like washing dishes. Instead, use it for significant events or memorable milestones. It creates a sense of reflection, looking back at your personal history from a distance. For instance, saying you have visited a specific country or tried a rare food fits this pattern perfectly.

When paired with the 辞書形じしょけい (dictionary form) or 否定形ひていけい (negative form), the meaning shifts to "there are times when..." or "sometimes." This usage is slightly more formal than using the adverb 時々ときどき (tokidoki) alone. It works well for describing objective situations or habits that aren't constant but do occur occasionally.

Structure & Formation

The grammar follows a simple pattern based on the verb ending. In casual speech, the particle がが is often dropped, resulting in ことあることある.

To make the sentence polite, change あるある to ありますあります or ないない to ありませんありません.

Example Sentences

1. Past Experience (Positive & Negative)

Use the Ta-form to discuss things you have (or haven't) done at least once in your life.

2. Occasional Occurrence (Dictionary/Negative Form)

Use these patterns to describe situations that happen occasionally but aren't every day habits.

Common Mistakes

Mistake 1: Using specific time markers for experiences

❌ 先週せんしゅう、映画えいがを見みたことがあります。

✅ 先週せんしゅう、映画えいがを見みました。

The experience pattern refers to your entire life history. If you specify a time like "last week" or "yesterday," use the simple past tense instead.

Mistake 2: Confusing the meaning by switching tenses

❌ 刺身さしみを食たべることがありますか。(To ask: "Have you ever eaten sashimi?")

✅ 刺身さしみを食たべたことがありますか。

Using the dictionary form asks if the person "sometimes" eats sashimi as a habit. To ask about a past life experience, you must use the Ta-form (食たべた).

Mistake 3: Overusing it for mundane daily tasks

❌ 今朝けさ、顔かおを洗あらったことがあります。

✅ 顔かおを洗あらいました。

Using ことがある for something as common as washing your face sounds like it is a rare, monumental achievement. Stick to the simple past for routine daily actions.

Cultural Notes

In Japanese communication, using the frequency form (辞書形じしょけい + ことことがあるある) can help soften a statement. Instead of bluntly saying "I'm late," saying "there are times when I'm late" (遅刻ちこくすることがあります) makes the speaker sound more humble and less defensive. This reflects the value of 遠慮えんりょ (restraint) in social interactions.

When someone asks about your experience, you can answer with a simple ありますあります or ありませんありません. To sound more natural, you might add 一度いちど (once) or 何度なんども (many times) to provide more context to your history.

Related Grammar Points

• ことになる — It Has Been Decided (Grammar N4)
• Mastering 〜ようになる: Describing Changes in Ability and Habit (Grammar N4)
• てもらう — Have Someone Do / Receive a Favor (Grammar N4)
• Capturing the Moment: Using Tokoro da (Grammar N4)
• Making an Effort with ようにする (youni suru) (Grammar N4)
• たことがある — Have Done Before (Grammar N5)

JLPT Tips

The N4 exam often tests your ability to distinguish between the Ta-form and the dictionary form in reading and listening. When you see ことことがあるある, look for adverbs. Words like 以前いぜん (previously) or かつてかつて (once) signal an experience. Words like たまにたまに (occasionally) or 時々ときどき (sometimes) signal a habit.

Additionally, be prepared to see this grammar combined with the potential form. For example, 歩あるけないことがありました (there were times when I couldn't walk) describes a temporary state in the past. Always look at the very end of the sentence to determine the final tense.