〜ことがある

About

〜ことがある (literally, "something exists"), is used to describe things that happen at irregular or occasional intervals. This differentiates it from 〜たことがある which is used to describe past experiences.

〜ことがある may be proceeded by verbs, nouns, as well い and な-adjectives.

Verbs must be in either their dictionary form or plain negative (ない) form:

• 

  食たべることがある

• 

  食たべないことがある

Nouns must attach using the nominalizing の particle, as こと is itself a noun:

• 

  満車まんしゃのことがある

い-adjectives attach in their dictionary form, or plain negative form:

• 

  おいしいことがある

• 

  おいしくないことがある

な-adjectives require な to attach:

• 

  危険きけんなことがある

Or they may attach with じゃない・ではない:

• 

  危険きけん（じゃない・ではない）ことがある

〜ことがある may be conjugated to 〜ことがない to describe things that never happen.

The が particle may be substituted for the も particle to describe things that happen in addition to something else ("There are times when X also happens...").

In certain situations, the が particle may be substituted for the は particle. This is most common when using this phrase to ask a question.

Summary

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  〜ことがある is used to describe occasional or infrequent events.

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  〜ことがある may be used with any part of speech.

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  The が particle may be substituted for the も particle to describe that something also happens.

• 

  The が particle may be substituted for the は particle, usually when using 〜ことがある to ask a question.

• 

  〜ことがない may be used to describe that something never happens.