5 N4 Grammar Patterns for Experiences and Trials｜Mastering 〜たことがある and 〜てみる
Learn the difference between '〜たことがある' for past experiences and '〜ことがある' for things that happen occasionally.
Master how to use '〜てみる' when trying something new.
Practice expressing experiences and trials naturally, as they are frequently used in everyday conversation.
How this bundle was curated
All items at a glance
| Grammar | Connection | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 〜たことがあります | Verb た-form | have done 〜 |
| 〜たことがありません | Verb た-form | have never done 〜 |
| 〜ことがあります | Verb Dictionary/ない-form | there are times when 〜 |
| 〜ことがありません | Verb Dictionary/ない-form | there are no times when 〜 / never 〜 |
| 〜てみます | Verb て-form | try doing 〜 |
Item by item
Reading: 〜ta koto ga arimasu
have done 〜
Used to express that you have experienced something in the past. It connects to the た-form of a verb. It is more natural for talking about special life experiences or things that happened a while ago, rather than simple facts from the recent past.
Reading: 〜ta koto ga arimasen
have never done 〜
Used to express that you have never experienced something in the past. In everyday conversation, the form '〜たことがないです' is also very commonly used.
Reading: 〜koto ga arimasu
there are times when 〜
Connects to the dictionary form or negative form (ない-form) of a verb to indicate that something happens occasionally, though not frequently. Be careful, as it looks similar to '〜たことがある' (experience) but connects to a different tense.
Reading: 〜koto ga arimasen
there are no times when 〜 / never 〜
Connects to the dictionary form or negative form of a verb to indicate that such a thing generally never happens.
Reading: 〜te mimasu
try doing 〜
Connects to the て-form of a verb to carry the nuance of trying something out or doing something as a test. It is often used when casually attempting something new.
Practice with examples
富士山に登ったことがありますか。
Have you ever climbed Mount Fuji?
A typical expression used to ask about someone's experience.
たまに一人で映画を見に行くことがあります。
There are times when I go to see a movie alone.
Used when talking about things that happen occasionally.
おいしそうですね。一口食べてみます。
It looks delicious. I'll try a bite.
Used when trying something out as a test.
How to decide when unsure
- When 'ことがある' follows the た-form of a verb, it expresses a past 'experience' (have done). When it follows the dictionary or ない-form, it expresses something that occasionally 'happens' in the present or future (there are times when).
- '〜てみる' does not just mean doing an action; it includes the nuance of a trial, meaning 'doing something to see what it is like or what will happen'.
Common mistakes
'〜たことがある' is usually used for special experiences or past history. It is more natural not to use it for simple actions in the very recent past, such as yesterday or this morning.
Wrong example: 昨日、パンを食べたことがあります。/Correct example: 昨日、パンを食べました。
Eating bread yesterday is a simple past fact, so it is generally more natural to use '〜ました'.
Mini quiz
Choose the most grammatically natural sentence from the following.
One-line summary
'〜たことがある' for experiences and '〜てみる' for trials are used very frequently in everyday conversation. Practice them while paying close attention to the verb conjugation forms.
FAQ
What is the difference between '〜たことがありません' and '〜たことがないです'?
The meaning is exactly the same. '〜たことがありません' sounds slightly more polite and formal, while '〜たことがないです' is very commonly used in everyday conversation.
Can '〜てみる' be used in the past tense?
Yes, it can. You can use '〜てみました' (tried doing 〜) to express something you tried out in the past. (e.g., I tried going to that restaurant yesterday -> 昨日そのレストランに行ってみました)
