～ことがある (koto ga aru) – How to Say “I’ve Done It Before” in Japanese

Ever want to say “I’ve been to Japan” or “I’ve eaten natto before”? Then it’s time to learn ～ことがある.

This grammar point helps you talk about past experiences — things you’ve done at least once in your life (even if not recently). It’s useful when sharing stories or comparing experiences.

Let’s dive in.

What Does ～ことがある Mean?

When added after a verb in past tense plain form (〜た form), ～ことがある means:

• "I have done [something] before."
• "There was an occasion when I did [something]."

It's often used to express that something has happened at least once in your life.

How to Use ～ことがある

Here’s the basic formula:

Verb (た-form) + ことがある

Let’s look at examples:

• 日本に行ったことがあります。
  Nihon ni itta koto ga arimasu.
  → I’ve been to Japan before.
• すしを食べたことがあります。
  Sushi wo tabeta koto ga arimasu.
  → I’ve eaten sushi before.
• アニメを見たことがあります。
  Anime wo mita koto ga arimasu.
  → I’ve watched anime before.

You can also make it negative:

• 日本に行ったことがありません。
  → I’ve never been to Japan.

Practice Time

Try saying these:

• I’ve ridden the Shinkansen.
  → 新幹線に乗ったことがあります。
• I’ve never eaten natto.
  → 納豆を食べたことがありません。
• I’ve met a famous person.
  → 有名人に会ったことがあります。

Want to make it casual? Just swap あります with ある:

• すし、食べたことある？
  → Ever had sushi?

Bonus: Talking About Frequency

If you’ve done something more than once, use a different form.

🚫 ～ことがある only means “have done before (at least once).”

✅ To say “I do it often,” use plain present tense instead.

Compare:

• 日本に行ったことがあります。
  → I’ve been to Japan before (maybe just once).
• よく日本に行きます。
  → I often go to Japan.

Sharing Experiences with ～ことがある

In Japanese conversations, people often ask about what you’ve tried, especially when traveling or meeting new people. It’s polite small talk, and a great way to connect.

You'll hear questions like:

• フグを食べたことある？ (Have you eaten blowfish?)
• おおさかに行ったことある？ (Have you been to Osaka?)

You'll bond over shared experiences with ～ことがある!

tl;dr...

• Use ～た + ことがある to say “I’ve done [X] before.”
• Negative = ～ことがありません → I’ve never done it
• Great for sharing past experiences, even if it was just once

「〜ことがある」を使ったことある？🤭