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The Japanese pattern 「〜ことがある」 can be easy to mistake for a single usage because its translations often look similar. For example, 「この電車は遅れることがある」 says that this train is sometimes delayed, while 「京都へ行ったことがある」 says that someone has been to Kyoto. Although only one 「た」 appears to have been added, the two sentences are already talking about different things. Then there is 「遅れることがあった」, which introduces another sense of time: there were times during a past period when someone was late. This is why 「ことがある」 should not be memorized as one fixed translation. The form of the verb before it determines whether the sentence describes something that happens occasionally or something that happened as a past experience.

What Does Japanese 「〜ことがある」 Mean? The Dictionary Form Means “Sometimes”

「Verb dictionary form＋ことがある」 indicates that an action, state, or phenomenon does not occur regularly but does appear occasionally. Depending on the context, it is commonly translated into Chinese as “有時會……,” “偶爾會……,” or “也有……的時候.”

The point is not merely probability. The pattern says, “This situation genuinely does occur, but not every time.” It is therefore often used for weather, transportation, system failures, personal habits, and other irregular events.

For example, 「この電車は遅れることがある」 describes the fact that this train is occasionally delayed. There is no need to identify how many minutes late it was last Wednesday. If the speaker is simply looking back at one event that occurred, this is not the relevant usage.

• Example: この電車は遅れることがあります。
  Kana: このでんしゃはおくれることがあります。
  Translation: This train is sometimes delayed.
  The sentence describes delays that occur irregularly, not one particular delay that has already happened.
• Example: 冬でも、急に暖かくなることがあります。
  Kana: ふゆでも、きゅうにあたたかくなることがあります。
  Translation: Even in winter, it sometimes suddenly becomes warmer.
  Winter is usually cold, but sudden warm spells occasionally occur, so 「〜ことがあります」 can be used.
• Example: 忙しい日は、昼ご飯を食べないことがあります。
  Kana: いそがしいひは、ひるごはんをたべないことがあります。
  Translation: On busy days, I sometimes do not eat lunch.
  The ない-form 「食べない」 comes before the pattern, showing that “not eating lunch” is itself the situation that occasionally occurs.

How to Form Japanese 「〜ことがある」: Affirmative, Negative, and Past Occurrence

The basic structure for an occasional occurrence is 「verb dictionary form／ない-form＋ことがある」. For polite speech, change the ending to 「ことがあります」. If the entire situation existed only in the past, use 「ことがあった／ありました」.

Meaning to Express	Form	Example	Nuance
Sometimes do／happen	V dictionary form＋ことがある	遅れることがある	Sometimes be delayed
Sometimes not do／happen	V ない-form＋ことがある	来ないことがある	Sometimes not come
Occasionally occurred during a past period	V dictionary form／ない-form＋ことがあった	遅れることがあった	Sometimes was late during that period
Polite explanation	V dictionary form／ない-form＋ことがあります	使えないことがあります	May sometimes be unavailable

It is especially important to distinguish the two kinds of “past” here. 「遅れることがあった」 places the entire occasional state of “sometimes being late” in the past. By contrast, 「遅れたことがある」 means “have been late before” and confirms a past experience. Both sentences contain a past form, but the past marker appears in a different position.

Three Uses of Japanese 「〜ことがある」: Dictionary Form, ない-Form, and 「ことがあった」

Use ① of 「〜ことがある」｜The Dictionary Form Describes Something That Sometimes Happens

When the verb is in the dictionary form, the focus is an event that occurs irregularly in the present or under general conditions. It does not say that the event happens every day or is about to happen. It only says that the situation is not entirely absent.

This form is common with weather, transportation, service hours, and equipment conditions because these matters are easily affected by external factors and are difficult to describe as a fixed rule with 「いつも」.

• Example: この地域では、春でも雪が降ることがあります。
  Kana: このちいきでは、はるでもゆきがふることがあります。
  Translation: In this region, it sometimes snows even in spring.
  Snow in spring is not a regular phenomenon, but it can genuinely occur from time to time, so 「降ることがあります」 is used.
• Example: 強い雨の日は、電車が遅れることがあります。
  Kana: つよいあめのひは、でんしゃがおくれることがあります。
  Translation: On days with heavy rain, trains are sometimes delayed.
  「強い雨の日」 first establishes a condition under which delays are more likely, while 「ことがあります」 retains the meaning that a delay does not occur every time.
• Example: アクセスが集中すると、画面が表示されるまで時間がかかることがあります。
  Kana: アクセスがしゅうちゅうすると、がめんがひょうじされるまでじかんがかかることがあります。
  Translation: When access is concentrated, it may sometimes take longer for the screen to appear.
  This wording is common in system notices and indicates a situation that may occasionally occur under a specific condition.

Use ② of 「〜ことがある」｜The ない-Form Means “Sometimes Not…”

The ない-form can also precede 「〜ことがある」. This does not negate the entire pattern. It means that “not doing something” or “something not happening” is itself a situation that occasionally occurs.

「朝ご飯を食べないことがある」 means that someone sometimes skips breakfast. 「朝ご飯を食べることがない」, however, tends to mean that the person hardly ever eats breakfast. The placement of the negation makes a major difference.

• Example: 忙しい日は、朝ご飯を食べないことがあります。
  Kana: いそがしいひは、あさごはんをたべないことがあります。
  Translation: On busy days, I sometimes do not eat breakfast. The person may still eat breakfast normally; “not eating” simply occurs occasionally under the condition of being busy.
• Example: 地下に入ると、スマートフォンの電波が入らないことがあります。
  Kana: ちかにはいると、スマートフォンのでんぱがはいらないことがあります。
  Translation: When you go underground, your smartphone sometimes receives no signal.
  「入らない」 is an occasional result and does not mean that underground spaces always have absolutely no signal.
• Example: 混雑している時間帯は、すぐに席に案内されないことがあります。
  Kana: こんざつしているじかんたいは、すぐにせきにあんないされないことがあります。
  Translation: During crowded periods, you may not be seated immediately.
  Restaurants and facilities can use this wording to warn about exceptions. It conveys irregularity more clearly than the direct 「案内できません」.

Use ③ of 「〜ことがある」｜「ことがあった」Describes Something That Occasionally Happened During a Past Period

If an occasional situation existed only in the past, the final 「ある」 can be changed to the past form 「あった」. This describes not one special experience but a situation that occurred irregularly throughout a period in the past.

A time frame such as 「学生の頃」, 「以前は」, or 「子どもの頃」 is often stated at the same time. These expressions clearly keep the scope of “sometimes happening” in the past.

• Example: 学生の頃は、授業に遅れることがありました。
  Kana: がくせいのころは、じゅぎょうにおくれることがありました。
  Translation: When I was a student, I was sometimes late for class.
  This does not merely confirm that the speaker has once been late. It says that being late occurred occasionally during the speaker’s student years.
• Example: 以前は、この店でもカードが使えないことがありました。
  Kana: いぜんは、このみせでもカードがつかえないことがありました。
  Translation: In the past, there were also times when cards could not be used at this shop.
  「以前は」 limits the entire occasional state to the past and does not say whether the same is still true now.
• Example: 子どもの頃は、夜中に怖い夢を見て起きることがありました。
  Kana: こどものころは、よなかにこわいゆめをみておきることがありました。
  Translation: As a child, I sometimes woke up in the middle of the night after a frightening dream.
  This describes a recurring but irregular childhood situation, not one individual dream.

What Is the Difference Between Japanese 「〜ことがある」 and 「〜たことがある」?

「Verb dictionary form＋ことがある」 describes an occasional occurrence, while 「verb た-form＋ことがある」 describes experience. When distinguishing them, first check whether the verb before 「ことがある」 is in the た-form. This will usually separate the two timelines.

Comparison	「V dictionary form／ない-form＋ことがある」	「V た-form＋ことがある」
Main meaning	Something sometimes happens／sometimes does not happen	Someone has done something／something has happened before
Common Chinese translations	有時會……、偶爾會……、有……的時候	曾經……、做過……、有過……的經驗
Verb form	Dictionary form or ない-form	た-form
Time focus	The present, general conditions, or something that may recur during a period	Life experience or an existing experience from the past to the present
Indicates repetition?	It can; the event appears irregularly and occasionally	Not necessarily; it only needs to have occurred at least once
Describes one specific event?	Usually not	It confirms whether the experience exists rather than giving details of a particular event
Number of occurrences	Irregular and possibly many	At least once; the number is unimportant
Common time expressions	ときどき、たまに、忙しい日は、雨の日は	一度、何度も、今までに、以前
Negative form	Vない＋ことがある = sometimes do not…	Vた＋ことがない = have never…
What a question asks	Whether this type of situation sometimes occurs	Whether someone has ever had this experience
Typical contexts	Weather, transportation, habits, equipment conditions, occasional phenomena	Travel experience, foods eaten, things done, life experience
How to decide	Ask whether the event “sometimes occurs”	Ask whether the sentence concerns “whether it happened before”
Common confusion	Do not interpret it as “have done before” simply because it contains 「ある」	The experience usage has 「た」 before 「こと」

▌「食べることがある」 vs 「食べたことがある」｜Sometimes Eat vs Have Eaten Before

「食べることがある」 answers whether someone sometimes eats something as part of ordinary life. 「食べたことがある」 answers whether someone has had the experience of eating it in the past.

✅ 納豆は、朝ご飯に食べることがあります。
I sometimes eat natto for breakfast.

✅ 納豆を食べたことがあります。
I have eaten natto before.

The first sentence may mean that the person sometimes eats natto and has probably eaten it many times. The second only confirms that the experience has occurred at least once and does not reveal whether the person still eats natto now.

▌「遅れることがあった」 vs 「遅れたことがある」｜Sometimes Happened in the Past vs Has Happened Before

Both sentences concern the past. The difference is where the past form appears.

✅ 学生の頃は、授業に遅れることがあった。
When I was a student, I was sometimes late for class.

✅ 授業に遅れたことがある。
I have been late for class before.

「遅れることがあった」 looks back at a habit or situation that occasionally appeared during a period. 「遅れたことがある」 only confirms that being late has happened.

These two passages work well after the comparison table because using the same situation with different wording adds nuance and is easier to understand than repeating the definitions.

▌「〜ことがある」 vs 「〜たことがある」｜With April Snow, One Describes Occasional Occurrence and the Other a Past Event

The distinction becomes clear when 「〜ことがある」 and 「〜たことがある」 are placed in the same situation. Suppose someone is checking whether it snows in April in a particular region. 「四月でも雪が降ることがあります」 introduces the area’s general weather: it does not necessarily snow in April, but it occasionally can. If the sentence becomes 「四月に雪が降ったことがあります」, attention shifts to the past and indicates that April snow has actually occurred before. The first answers, “Can this situation occur?” and the second, “Has it happened before?”

• Example: この地域では、四月でも雪が降ることがあります。
  Kana: このちいきでは、しがつでもゆきがふることがあります。
  Translation: In this region, it sometimes snows even in April.
  「降ることがあります」 describes weather that may normally occur in this region. April snow is not regular, but it does happen occasionally.
• Example: この地域では、四月に雪が降ったことがあります。
  Kana: このちいきでは、しがつにゆきがふったことがあります。
  Translation: This region has had snow in April before.
  「降ったことがあります」 focuses on whether the event has occurred in the past. It only confirms a record of April snow and does not say that it normally snows occasionally in April.
• Example: 四月でも雪が降ることがありますが、今年はまだ降っていません。
  Kana: しがつでもゆきがふることがありますが、ことしはまだふっていません。
  Translation: It sometimes snows even in April, but it has not snowed yet this year.
  This sentence makes it especially clear that 「〜ことがある」 describes a generally possible situation. Even if it has not happened this year, the description “it sometimes snows in April” remains valid.

Japanese 「〜ことがある」 vs 「ときどき」, 「場合がある」, and 「〜たりする」

All of these expressions may be translated into Chinese with words such as “有時,” “偶爾,” or “有可能,” but the sentences focus on different information.

「〜ことがある」 says that a situation sometimes occurs. 「ときどき」 directly marks frequency. 「場合がある」 is closer to a formal explanation that something may occur under a particular condition. 「〜たりする」 presents an action as one example among several possible activities.

Comparison	「〜ことがある」	「ときどき」	「〜場合がある」	「〜たりする」
Main function	Indicates that a situation occasionally occurs	Directly indicates frequency	Indicates possibility under certain conditions	Lists possible actions or behaviors
Common Chinese translations	有時會……、偶爾會……	有時、偶爾	有可能……、有……的情況	會……之類的、像是……
Grammar type	Pattern	Frequency adverb	Pattern	Listing pattern
Primary focus	“This situation genuinely does occur sometimes”	“How often does it occur?”	“This possibility exists under a condition”	“What are some possible things someone does?”
Directly indicates frequency?	Has an occasional meaning but does not specify the level of frequency	Yes	Not its main function	Not its main function
Requires a condition?	Not necessarily, though often used with one	No	Often used with a condition, reason, or specific situation	No
Has a listing meaning?	No	No	No	Yes
Implies other actions?	No	No	No	Usually
Common contexts	Daily conversation, general explanations, notices	Daily conversation	Instructions, regulations, notices, general explanations	Daily conversation, descriptions of life
Register	Neutral	Everyday and natural	Neutral to somewhat written; common in formal explanations	Stronger everyday tone
Common combination	遅れることがある	ときどき遅れる	遅れる場合がある	遅れたりする
Can be used with 「ときどき」?	Yes: ときどき遅れることがある	It is itself a frequency adverb	Yes, depending on the sentence	Yes, but the focus changes
Suitable question	“Does this sort of thing happen?”	“How often does it happen?”	“Under what circumstances might it happen?”	“What do you usually do?”
Common misconception	It does not mean “have done before”	It is an adverb, not a pattern	It is not merely a formal version of 「ことがある」	It is not equivalent to “sometimes”
Simplest distinction	Check whether it says “there are times like this”	Check whether the only point is “sometimes”	Check whether it explains “this may happen under a condition”	Check whether it gives examples of “things someone does”

▌「〜ことがある」 vs 「ときどき」｜Occasional Situation vs Direct Frequency

「ときどき」 is itself a frequency adverb and directly tells the listener that something sometimes happens. 「〜ことがある」 is closer to adding, “This kind of situation also occurs.”

✅ ときどき電車で寝ます。
I sometimes sleep on the train.

✅ 疲れていると、電車で寝てしまうことがあります。
When I am tired, I sometimes accidentally fall asleep on the train.

The first sentence simply states the frequency of sleeping. The second first establishes the condition 「疲れていると」 and then says that the situation occasionally occurs.

「ときどき」 and 「〜ことがある」 can also appear together, as in 「ときどき遅れることがあります」. The sentence is grammatically valid, though both expressions add frequency information. If the context is already clear, they usually do not need to be stacked in every sentence.

▌「〜ことがある」 vs 「〜場合がある」｜Occasional Occurrence vs Possibility Under a Condition

「〜場合がある」 is common in regulations, warnings, instructions, and formal notices. Its focus is closer to “This may happen under certain circumstances.”

✅ 天候によって、電車が遅れることがあります。
Depending on the weather, trains are sometimes delayed.

✅ 悪天候の場合、運行を中止する場合があります。
In severe weather, services may be suspended.

The first is like a general reminder that delays occasionally occur. The second is more like an operating rule or formal notice explaining that suspension may be imposed under a specific condition.

The two can be interchangeable in some contexts, but 「場合がある」 generally sounds more like formal documentation than 「ことがある」.

▌「〜ことがある」 vs 「〜たりする」｜Occasional Situation vs Listing Possible Actions

The main function of 「〜たりする」 is not frequency but exemplification. 「週末は映画を見たりする」 means that on weekends someone does things such as watching movies, implying that other activities may also occur.

✅ 週末は一人で映画を見ることがあります。
On weekends, I sometimes watch movies alone.

✅ 週末は映画を見たり、カフェに行ったりします。
On weekends, I watch movies, go to cafés, and do similar things.

The first only says that “watching a movie alone” occasionally happens. The second lists weekend activities without specifying how often each one occurs.

▌「〜ことがある」 vs 「〜こともある」｜Simple Occurrence vs Adding Another Situation

Both 「〜こともある」 and 「〜ことがある」 can describe occasional events, but 「も」 often creates a contrast: “Things may normally be different, but there are also times like this.”

✅ 忙しい日は、昼ご飯を食べないことがあります。
On busy days, I sometimes do not eat lunch.

✅ 普段は自炊しますが、忙しい日は外で食べることもあります。
I usually cook for myself, but on busy days I sometimes eat out as well.

The second sentence has already said that the person normally cooks. 「こともある」 then adds another possible situation, making the sense of “there are also times when…” especially clear.

▌「〜ことがある」, 「ときどき」, 「場合がある」, and 「〜たりする」｜Even with Train Delays, Each Sentence Cares About Something Different

Suppose all four sentences say that “the train is not on time every time.” Each expression still directs attention elsewhere. 「遅れることがある」 adds that occasional delays genuinely occur on this line. 「ときどき遅れる」 directly gives the frequency. 「遅れる場合がある」 resembles a notice that delays may occur under certain conditions. 「遅れたりする」 presents delay as one possible situation and generally leaves the sense that other things may also happen. All four may be translated into Chinese using words such as “有時” or “可能,” but the Japanese sentences communicate different information.

• Example: この路線は、強い雨の日に遅れることがあります。
  Kana: このろせんは、つよいあめのひにおくれることがあります。
  Translation: This line is sometimes delayed on days with heavy rain.
  「遅れることがあります」 says that delays genuinely occur occasionally. It neither specifies how often nor says that heavy rain always causes a delay.
• Example: この路線は、強い雨の日にはときどき遅れます。
  Kana: このろせんは、つよいあめのひにはときどきおくれます。
  Translation: This line is sometimes delayed on days with heavy rain.
  With 「ときどき」, attention moves closer to frequency and directly tells the listener that delays sometimes occur. This differs from 「ことがある」, which adds that this type of situation exists.
• Example: 悪天候により、電車が遅れる場合があります。
  Kana: あくてんこうにより、でんしゃがおくれるばあいがあります。
  Translation: Trains may be delayed due to severe weather.
  「場合があります」 sounds more like a notice or explanation. It first sets severe weather as a condition and then warns that delays are possible under that condition; it does not describe actual frequency.
• Example: 天気が悪いと、電車が遅れたりします。
  Kana: てんきがわるいと、でんしゃがおくれたりします。
  Translation: When the weather is bad, things such as train delays can occur.
  「遅れたりします」 presents delay as one situation that may occur in bad weather. It focuses less narrowly on delay than 「ことがある」, does not directly specify frequency like 「ときどき」, and leaves room for other unlisted situations.

Common 「〜ことがあります」 in Japan Travel: Trains, Weather, and Payment

When travelers see 「〜ことがあります」, it often warns them about an irregular exception. A train may be delayed, mountain areas may still receive snow in spring, or a credit card may sometimes be unavailable because of communication conditions.

The expression does not say that the event is happening now or that it will definitely happen. It simply explains a situation travelers might encounter before they make plans, which makes it especially practical in transportation and facility notices.

▌Situation ①｜Checking Whether a Train Line Is Prone to Delays

A：この路線は遅れることがありますか。
　　このろせんはおくれることがありますか。
　　Is this line sometimes delayed?

B：はい。大雨や強風のときは、遅れることがあります。
　　はい。おおあめやきょうふうのときは、おくれることがあります。
　　Yes. It is sometimes delayed during heavy rain or strong winds.

📌 Grammar Point: 「遅れることがあります」 asks whether occasional delays occur on this line, not whether one delay has ever happened before.

▌Situation ②｜Asking About Spring Weather in a Mountain Area

A：四月でも雪が降りますか。
　　しがつでもゆきがふりますか。
　　Does it snow even in April?

B：毎年ではありませんが、雪が降ることがあります。
　　まいとしではありませんが、ゆきがふることがあります。
　　Not every year, but it does occasionally snow.

📌 Grammar Point: 「毎年ではありません」 first rules out regular occurrence, and 「降ることがあります」 then explains that occasional snowfall still occurs.

▌Situation ③｜A Shop Explaining Credit Card Availability

A：クレジットカードは使えますか。
　　クレジットカードはつかえますか。
　　Can I use a credit card?

B：はい。ただ、通信状況によって使えないことがあります。
　　はい。ただ、つうしんじょうきょうによってつかえないことがあります。
　　Yes. However, depending on communication conditions, it may sometimes be unavailable.

📌 Grammar Point: 「使えないことがあります」 does not say that credit cards cannot be used. It says that the exception of being unable to use them sometimes occurs.

Cultural Notes:

1. Transportation and facility notices in Japan often use 「〜ことがあります」 to warn about exceptions. Expressions such as 「遅れることがあります」 and 「利用できないことがあります」 do not guarantee that the event will happen; they explain a situation that users may encounter.
2. When a notice must state conditions and procedures more formally, 「〜場合があります」 is also common. Both 「ことがあります」 and 「場合があります」 frequently appear during travel, but the latter generally has a more pronounced regulatory and written tone.
3. 「〜ことがあります」 already contains an occasional meaning. Adding 「まれに」, 「たまに」, or 「ときどき」 is not incorrect, but it makes the frequency more specific. 「まれに〜ことがあります」 is particularly suitable for a very low incidence that still cannot be entirely ruled out.

How Does Japanese 「〜ことがある」 Compare with Korean 「-(으)ㄹ 때가 있다」?

◆ Similar Grammar: Korean 「-(으)ㄹ 때가 있다」

Korean 「-(으)ㄹ 때가 있다」 is literally close to “there are times when…” and can indicate that something does not happen regularly but does occur occasionally. When describing weather, habits, and irregular conditions during a past period, it is quite close to Japanese 「verb dictionary form／ない-form＋ことがある」.

Everyday Korean also frequently uses the adverb 「가끔」 directly, as in 「가끔 늦어요」. This is closer to Japanese 「ときどき遅れます」. 「늦을 때가 있어요」, by contrast, more closely resembles Japanese 「遅れることがあります」.

• Example: 봄에도 눈이 올 때가 있어요.
  Romanization: bom-e-do nun-i ol ttae-ga i-sseo-yo.
  Translation: It sometimes snows even in spring.
  「올 때가 있다」 indicates that spring snow is not a regular phenomenon but still occurs occasionally, making it close to Japanese 「春でも雪が降ることがある」.
• Example: 바쁜 날에는 아침을 안 먹을 때가 있어요.
  Romanization: ba-ppeun nal-e-neun a-chim-eul an meo-geul ttae-ga i-sseo-yo.
  Translation: On busy days, I sometimes do not eat breakfast.
  Korean describes occasions when “not eating breakfast” occurs, creating a nuance close to the Japanese ない-form followed by 「ことがある」.
• Example: 학생 때는 수업에 늦을 때가 있었어요.
  Romanization: hak-saeng ttae-neun su-eop-e neu-jeul ttae-ga i-sseo-sseo-yo.
  Translation: When I was a student, I was sometimes late for class.
  「있었어요」 places the time frame for occasional lateness in the past; it does not merely confirm one experience of being late.

◆ Core Difference from 「〜ことがある」:
Korean 「-(으)ㄹ 때가 있다」 directly describes an occasional situation as “there are times when…,” while Japanese combines the formal noun 「こと」 with 「ある」. Korean also often expresses frequency directly with 「가끔＋verb」, so actual translations do not need to map every instance mechanically to 「-(으)ㄹ 때가 있다」.

「〜ことがある」 does not need to be memorized as several separate Chinese meanings. 「降ることがある」 means that it sometimes snows; 「降ったことがある」 says that it has snowed before; and 「降ることがあった」 says that it sometimes snowed during a past period. Placing the three sentences side by side reveals the difference more directly than memorizing only “有時會” and “曾經.” When similar-looking expressions such as 「こともある」 and 「場合がある」 appear later, first check whether the sentence concerns frequency, past experience, or a situation that may arise under particular conditions.

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