How to tell them apart
The first koto ga aru follows the ta form and reports having had an experience at least once, like Nihon ni itta koto ga aru. The second follows the dictionary form and reports that something occasionally happens, like Asagohan o tabezu ni iku koto ga aru. Both patterns are grammatical, so changing ta to ru does not make the sentence wrong, it only changes experience to occasional habit.
- ことがある Use ta koto ga aru to talk about having the experience of having done something at least once.
- ことがある Use ru koto ga aru to say that something sometimes happens.
| Grammar point | Meaning | JLPT level |
|---|---|---|
| ことがある kotogaaru | Has the experience of having done something at least once | N4 |
| ことがある kotogaaru | Occasionally; there are occasions when something happens | N4 |
ことがある kotogaaru
Has the experience of having done something at least once
行ったことがある expresses that someone has done something at least once in the past. It is often used to ask about life experiences, such as travel or foods tried, and to answer with yes or no. It follows the past ta-form of a verb, as in 見たことがある or 行ったことがある, with あります in polite speech. Frequency expressions like 2回 come before the verb phrase to show how many times the experience occurred.
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アフリカに行ったことがありますか。
Have you ever been to Africa?
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私はロンドンに２回行ったことがある。
I have been to London twice.
ことがある kotogaaru
Occasionally; there are occasions when something happens
Verb in dictionary form plus ことがある expresses that something happens on some occasions, equivalent to sometimes in English. It attaches directly to the plain nonpast form, as in 帰ることがある or 読むことがある, with あります for polite style. It is neutral for speech and writing, and it describes a repeated occasional habit rather than what is happening at this moment.
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仕事が忙しくて、夜遅く帰ることがある。
When work is busy, I sometimes come home late at night.
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休みの日は家で本を読むことがある。
On my days off, I sometimes read books at home.
ことがある and ことがある are both JLPT N4 grammar points that Japanese learners often mix up. This page compares them side by side on meanings, usage and example sentences, so you can tell them apart.