～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: