GrammarJLPT N5
→ there are times when ...
There Are Times When...
JLPT N5Fixed phraseNeutral
こともある is used to express that something happens occasionally or that there are times when a certain situation arises, even if it is not the norm. It conveys the idea that while something may not be typical or frequent, it does happen from time to time. The grammar point attaches to the plain form of verbs and adjectives, and it highlights a possibility or occasional occurrence rather than a habitual action. It is important not to confuse こともある with ことがある used with the past tense (た-form), which expresses past experience ('have done something before'). With こともある, the focus is on present or general occasional occurrence, and the particle も ('also/even') is what gives it the nuance of 'even such a thing happens' or 'there are times when... too.' This expression is common in everyday conversation and writing alike, making it a versatile and frequently encountered grammar point at the intermediate level.
Examples
Example #1
朝ごはんを食べないこともある。
Here こともある is attached to the negative plain form of the verb 食べる to express that while the speaker usually eats breakfast, there are occasional times when they skip it. The particle も adds the nuance that not eating breakfast is not the usual pattern but it does happen sometimes. This is a natural way to acknowledge exceptions to one's typical routine.There are times when I don't eat breakfast.
Structures
- Verb (plain form)
- Verb (plain form) + こともある
- い-Adjective
- い-Adjective + こともある
- な-Adjective
- な-Adjective + な + こともある
- Negative
- Verb (ない-form) + こともある
Common mistakes
The most common mistake is confusing こともある (there are times when) with ことがある preceded by the た-form, which means 'have the experience of doing something.' For example, 日本に行ったことがある means 'I have been to Japan' (past experience), while 日本に行くこともある means 'There are times when I go to Japan' (occasional occurrence). Another frequent error is forgetting to use な before こと when connecting with な-adjectives, producing incorrect forms like 大変こともある instead of the correct 大変なこともある. Some learners also overuse こともある for things that happen very frequently; in such cases, expressions like よく or いつも would be more natural, as こともある implies the action is not the norm but rather an occasional deviation.
Related
ことがある (experience)たまに時々場合もあるないこともない