Talk about past experiences
Use たことがあります for experience and connect a short sequence.
What you’ll work on
- Distinguish an experience from a dated event
- Use the plain past before ことがあります
- Link two actions with the て-form
A short conversation
Google voice when available; device voice as a fallback. Kana readings help you read the written words; they do not show pitch accent.
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- にほんnihonJapan
- にnitime, destination, or location marker
- いったことがありますか。ittakotogaarimasukahave you ever been?Past verb + ことがある expresses a past experience. The English “you” comes from context.
The subject is understood from context in Japanese. English adds “I”, “you”, or “we” as needed. Match meaningful word groups, not individual characters.
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- はい、haiyes
- あります。arimasuexists / have (that experience)The context decides whether this means existence or a previously mentioned experience.
- きょねん、kyonenlast year
- いきました。ikimashitawent (polite past)
The subject is understood from context in Japanese. English adds “I”, “you”, or “we” as needed. Match meaningful word groups, not individual characters.
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- きょうとkyoutoKyoto
- でdeplace or means marker
- なにnaniwhat
- をoobject markerPronounced o. Marks what the action acts on; English usually has no separate word for it.
- しましたshimashitadid (polite past)English puts the past tense in “did” in this question.
- か。kaquestion markerMakes the sentence a question; English often changes its word order instead.
The subject is understood from context in Japanese. English adds “I”, “you”, or “we” as needed. Match meaningful word groups, not individual characters.
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- おてらoteratemple
- をoobject markerPronounced o. Marks what the action acts on; English usually has no separate word for it.
- みて、mitesee, and … (て-form)The following past-tense verb places this connected action in the past too.
- しゃしんshashinphoto
- をoobject markerPronounced o. Marks what the action acts on; English usually has no separate word for it.
- とりました。torimashitatook (photos), polite past
The て-form connects the first action to the next, so English adds “and”. ました places the connected actions in the past; “I” is understood.
Experience uses plain past + こと
Use た-form + ことがあります to say you have had an experience: 食べたことがあります. Ask with か and negate the experience with ことがありません.
The た-form inside this pattern stays in place: 食べたことがありません means have never eaten it. A dated event usually uses an ordinary past sentence such as 昨日、食べました. Experience and event descriptions answer different questions.
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- すしsushisushi
- をoobject markerPronounced o. Marks what the action acts on; English usually has no separate word for it.
- たべたことがあります。tabetakotogaarimasuhave eaten beforePast verb + ことがある expresses experience, rather than a particular dated event.
ことがあります expresses past experience, corresponding to “have … before”. “I” is understood.
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- にほんnihonJapan
- にnitime, destination, or location marker
- いったことがありません。ittakotogaarimasenhave never been
The subject is understood from context in Japanese. English adds “I”, “you”, or “we” as needed. Match meaningful word groups, not individual characters.
Connect actions without adding と
A て-form can link an earlier action to a following action: 本を読んで、寝ました, I read a book and went to bed. The final verb carries the sentence’s past or nonpast ending.
This basic sequence often follows real-world order. It is not a universal replacement for every English “and.” と joins nouns or marks other relationships; do not use noun-linking と to join two full action sentences.
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- あさごはんasagohanbreakfast
- をoobject markerPronounced o. Marks what the action acts on; English usually has no separate word for it.
- たべて、tabeteeat, and … (て-form)The final past-tense verb sets the time for this connected action.
- がっこうgakkouschool
- にnitime, destination, or location marker
- いきました。ikimashitawent (polite past)
The て-form joins the two actions; English adds “and”. The final verb is past, so both actions are translated in the past. “I” is understood.
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- ほんhonbook
- をoobject markerPronounced o. Marks what the action acts on; English usually has no separate word for it.
- よんで、yonderead, and … (て-form)
- ねました。nemashitawent to bed (polite past)
The て-form links the actions, corresponding to “and”. The final past verb sets the time; “I” is understood.
Lesson vocabulary
Listen once, say it aloud, and try to recall the Japanese before looking.
| Japanese / reading | English | Listen |
|---|---|---|
| 去年 きょねん | last year | |
| 京都 きょうと | Kyoto | |
| お寺 おてら | Buddhist temple | |
| 寿司 すし | sushi | |
| 寝る ねる | to sleep / go to bed (ichidan) | |
| 旅行 りょこう | travel / trip |
Practice questions
Try every question, then check your answers. Punctuation and spacing do not affect your score. Use the displayed Japanese spelling or the complete kana reading; mixed spellings are accepted only when explicitly listed. Long vowels, small kana, and verb endings matter.
Showing an answer makes that question a practice item worth zero for this attempt. Retry with the answers hidden when you’re ready. If audio cannot play, use Show answer / text to practice by reading.
Independent practice
These are independent practice tasks. The site does not record your voice, save your writing, or grade open-ended answers. Ask a teacher or conversation partner for feedback when you can.
Speaking practice
Ask a partner whether they have tried a food. Give an invented experience and one dated detail.
Writing practice
Write one experience sentence and a two-action sentence about yesterday.
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