G31 · Experience: 〜た こと

Before you start

The sentences only use words you already know from hiragana, katakana and the beginner level.

This lesson assumes what you saw in the earlier ones. If something feels shaky, go back to it:

• G01build sentences with は and です
• G02ask and answer
• G03say what something is not
• G04say whose something is
• G05point at things and ask what they are
• G06say «also»
• G07say what you do
• G08say no and talk about the past
• G09say where you go
• G10say where you do something
• G11describe things and say they aren't
• G12describe with な-adjectives and before a noun
• G13say what there is and where
• G14ask and say where something is
• G15talk about what was
• G16ask politely
• G17say what is happening now
• G18say what you want to do
• G19say what you do first
• G20invite and suggest plans
• G21ask for and give permission
• G22say what is not allowed
• G23compare two things
• G24ask and say which of two
• G25give reasons and add «but»
• G26ask someone not to do something
• G27say something wasn't so
• G28say what you think
• G29say what you go to do
• G30do two things at once

What you learn

〜た ことが あります

• ことthing, fact (〜た ことが)
• ありませんthere isn't; never (〜た ことが ありません)

The た-form is the plain past and is built like the て-form: て → た, で → だ (たべた, のんだ, いった). With ことが あります it says you have done something before: にほんに いった ことが あります (I have been to Japan). With ありません, never.

• にほんに いった ことが あります。nihon ni itta koto ga arimasu.I have been to Japan.
• にほんの えいがを みた ことが あります。nihon no eiga o mita koto ga arimasu.I have seen a Japanese film.
• てがみを かいた ことが あります。tegami o kaita koto ga arimasu.I have written a letter before.
• コーヒーを のんだ ことが ありません。koohii o nonda koto ga arimasen.I have never had coffee.
• テニスを した ことが あります。tenisu o shita koto ga arimasu.I have played tennis before.
• にほんの おちゃを のんだ ことが あります。nihon no ocha o nonda koto ga arimasu.I have tried Japanese tea.

Practice

A short text written only with the kana and grammar you already know. Read it and answer.