ためしがない (tameshi-ga-nai): Have never once
～ためしがない (tameshi-ga-nai)
Meaning
Have never once
Formation and usage
Vた + ためしがない
Notation: N = noun; V dictionary = dictionary-form verb; V stem = the stem before ます; plain clause = plain-form clause; negative stem = the form before ない. Follow the attachment shown above.
Explanation
Critically asserts that something has never happened in one's experience, often about a bad habit.
Examples
彼は会議に時間どおりに来たためしがない。
He has never once arrived at the meeting on time.
彼は試験に時間どおりに来たためしがない。
He has never once arrived at the exam on time.
彼は研修に時間どおりに来たためしがない。
He has never once arrived at the training session on time.
彼は発表会に時間どおりに来たためしがない。
He has never once arrived at the presentation event on time.
彼は面接に時間どおりに来たためしがない。
He has never once arrived at the interview on time.
How related patterns differ
ろくに～ない means inadequately; ちっとも～ない means not at all; 別に～ない means not particularly. くもなんともない attaches to i-adjectives, でもなんでもない to nouns or na-adjectives. 覚えはない denies recollection; ためしがない denies any precedent.