How to Talk About Past Experiences in Japanese (...-ta koto ga arimasu)
Hello! In the previous lesson, you learned to connect actions in chronological order and gained the ability to tell stories. Finally, the last adventure in Phase 4.
This time, we will master a very important and self-presentation-enriching expression for talking about your life "experience"—'〜たことがあります'. Once you learn to say "I have eaten sushi" or "I have been to Japan," your conversations will become much deeper, and your conversation partner will want to know even more about you!
🎯 Lesson Goal
Learn to talk about your past experiences using the verb's 'ta-form' and the structure
「〜たことがあります」 (...-ta koto ga arimasu)!
Step 1 Discover
Let's look at how this is used in a real conversation. Yumi is asking about Ken's past experiences.
ケンさんは、北海道へ行ったことがありますか？
(Ken-san wa, Hokkaidou e itta koto ga arimasu ka?)
はい、あります。去年行きました。
(Hai, arimasu. Kyonen ikimashita.)
Did you notice?
Ken simply replies with "arimasu" (I have) instead of repeating the whole sentence. It's a natural way to answer a "Have you ever...?" question!
Step 2 The Pattern
Here is the structure for expressing your life experiences.
Basic Chunk
ことがあります。
( koto ga arimasu.)
🔑 Key Point 1: What is the 'ta-form'?
To construct this grammar, convert the verb into the 'ta-form'. It expresses "past tense/completed action". The method is almost the same as the 'te-form'!
食べて (tabete) → 食べた (tabeta)
飲んで (nonde) → 飲んだ (nonda)
🌟 Key Point 2: 'ことがあります' for experience
By simply adding 'ことがあります' to the verb's 'ta-form', you get the meaning "I have the experience of having done ~ (in the past)".
行く (iku) → 行った (itta) → 行ったことがあります (itta koto ga arimasu)
Step 3 Pattern Practice
Keep the chunk exactly the same, but swap the verbs in the blank. Read these out loud!
-
Action have eaten sushi
私は寿司を 食べた ことがあります。
(Watashi wa sushi o tabeta koto ga arimasu.)
-
Action have heard this song
この曲、聴いた ことがあります。
(Kono kyoku, kiita koto ga arimasu.)
-
Action have lived in Tsu city
以前、津市に 住んでいた ことがあります。
(Izen, Tsu-shi ni sunde ita koto ga arimasu.)
Step 4 Make It Yours!
Now it's your turn! Pick words from the Cheat Sheet below and create your own sentences about your past experiences.
👉 YOUR EXP ことがあります。
Vocabulary Cheat Sheet
ta-form verbs (動詞)
- いった itta (have gone)
- たべた tabeta (have eaten)
- みた mita (have seen)
- のった notta (have ridden)
- した shita (have done)
Example Nouns (名詞)
- 日本 (にほん) Nihon (Japan)
- 富士山 (ふじさん) Fuji-san (Mt. Fuji)
- 天ぷら (てんぷら) tenpura (tempura)
- 新幹線 (しんかんせん) shinkansen (bullet train)
- スキー sukii (skiing)
Bonus Go Beyond the Basics
In real conversations, you'll definitely need to say "I have NEVER done..." and speak casually with friends. Here is how to tweak the pattern!
🙅♀️ 1. I have NEVER... (Negative)
行ったこと がありません。
(...itta koto ga arimasen.)
行ったこと がない。
(...itta koto ga nai.)
🤝 2. Friendly & Casual (Affirmative)
行ったこと があります。
(...itta koto ga arimasu.)
行ったこと がある。
(...itta koto ga aru.)
Summary Lesson Review
Past Experiences: Add 〜たことがあります (ta koto ga arimasu) to the verb's ta-form to say "I have done...".
The Ta-Form: The ta-form expresses completed actions and conjugates similarly to the te-form (e.g., 行って becomes 行った).
Never Done: To say you have never experienced something, use 〜たことがありません (ta koto ga arimasen).
Practice Drill
Explanation