たform+こと が/は(particle) ない?


Is it

> みたことがない

or

> みたことはない ?

I'm not sure about the particle for this. Can both be used? Or which is
better? (And why is it so?)

Thanks!




This is a good question because quite a few Japanese-learners do use the two
as if they were completely interchangeable. They are not.

> 「みたこと **が** ない」

makes a simple and neutral statement saying you have not seen something. You
just do not have the experience. If I said:

> 「パイプオルガンを見{み}たこと **が** ない。」

all it means is that I have not seen a pipe organ. Plain and simple. I am not
implying anything.

> 「みたこと **は** ない」

, however, **_implies_** either:

1) you have not seen A, but you have B (or C)

or

2) you have not seen something, but have done something else (other than
seeing) with/about it.

This is all made possible by the use of the **_contrastive_** **は**.

Thus, if I said:

> 「パイプオルガンを見たこと **は** ない。」

I would be implying either:

1) I have never seen a pipe organ, but have seen another instrument.

or, for instance,

2) I have not **seen** a pipe organ but I have **listened** to pipe organ
music.

The smallest words are often the most important words in Japanese. I am, of
course, referring to our particles.




This is a good question because quite a few Japanese-learners do use the two
as if they were completely interchangeable. They are not.

> 「みたこと **が** ない」

makes a simple and neutral statement saying you have not seen something. You
just do not have the experience. If I said:

> 「パイプオルガンを見{み}たこと **が** ない。」

all it means is that I have not seen a pipe organ. Plain and simple. I am not
implying anything.

> 「みたこと **は** ない」

, however, **_implies_** either:

1) you have not seen A, but you have B (or C)

or

2) you have not seen something, but have done something else (other than
seeing) with/about it.

This is all made possible by the use of the **_contrastive_** **は**.

Thus, if I said:

> 「パイプオルガンを見たこと **は** ない。」

I would be implying either:

1) I have never seen a pipe organ, but have seen another instrument.

or, for instance,

2) I have not **seen** a pipe organ but I have **listened** to pipe organ
music.

The smallest words are often the most important words in Japanese. I am, of
course, referring to our particles.

