Before starting the exercise for expressing experience 「ことがある」, please clarify any doubts you may have about the grammatical rules by referring to your grammar guidebook or dictionary. The Instantaneous Composition Method requires you to compose sentences with the target sentence pattern(s) over and over in order to use them almost effortlessly. You should already have the necessary knowledge.
- Reference
- Genki I – Lesson 11: ことがある
- Tae Kim’s Guide – Experience
Instantaneous Composition Exercise for Expressing Experience 「ことがある」
This is not a translation exercise. This is the Instantaneous Composition Exercise. As if a reflexive action, try to create an equivalent Japanese sentence shortly after reading an English script. Try not to think for more than three seconds.
- Audio File
English and Hidden Japanese Scripts
1. | Have (you) ever come to Japan? |
日本に来たことがありますか? |
2. | Have (you) ever worked? |
働いたことがありますか? |
3. | Have (you) ever cried? |
泣いたことがありますか? |
4. | (I) have met Asano-san twice. |
浅野さんに二回会ったことがあります。 |
5. | I have taken a ship three times. |
船に三回乗ったことがあります。 |
6. | (I) have made curry before. |
カレーを作ったことがあります。 |
7. | As for the story, (I) have heard (it) before. |
その話は聞いたことがあります。 |
8. | (I) have never read manga. |
マンガを読んだことがありません。 |
9. | (I) have never eaten an apple. |
リンゴを食べたことがありません。 |
10. | (I) have never watched a movie. |
映画を見たことがありません。 |
Recommended Links
How to Proceed with the Instantaneous Composition Method

Japanese Grammar Exercises: Verb Clauses 「こと」「の」

Japanese Grammar Exercise: Potential Form 「…ことが出来る」「(ら)れる」