B1 Verb Tenses 21 min read Moyen

Compter les expériences : La première, deuxième, troisième fois

Maîtrise It's the first time I've... pour partager tes expériences uniques en toute confiance.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

When counting how many times you have done something, always use the Present Perfect tense after the ordinal number.

  • Use 'It is the first/second time' + Present Perfect. Example: 'It's the first time I've been here.'
  • Never use the Simple Present after this phrase. Wrong: 'It's the first time I am here.'
  • Use the Past Perfect if the main verb is in the past. Example: 'It was the first time I had seen it.'
It is + the + [1st/2nd/3rd] + time + Subject + have/has + Past Participle

Overview

### Overview
Lorsqu'on apprend l'anglais, on se rend vite compte que la langue possède une précision chirurgicale pour situer les événements dans le temps, surtout lorsqu'il s'agit de nos expériences personnelles. La structure It's/This is the [ordinal number] time [that] Subject + Present Perfect est l'un de ces outils indispensables. Elle permet de quantifier et de donner un contexte à une action au moment précis où elle se produit.
En tant que francophones, nous avons souvent tendance à traduire littéralement nos pensées. Si tu veux dire « C'est la première fois que je viens ici », ton instinct te poussera probablement vers le présent simple. Pourtant, en anglais, cette structure demande une gymnastique temporelle différente.
Pourquoi ? Parce que l'anglais considère que cette « première fois » est le point culminant d'une expérience qui s'étend du passé jusqu'à l'instant présent.
Maîtriser cette règle au niveau B1 est crucial. Cela te permet de passer d'un anglais « traduit » à un anglais « ressenti ». Que tu sois en train de déguster un café à Londres, de présenter un projet au bureau, ou de discuter de tes voyages sur Instagram, cette structure t'aidera à exprimer la nouveauté, la répétition ou même l'agacement avec une nuance que le simple passé ne permet pas.
C'est le pont entre ce que tu as vécu et ce que tu vis là, maintenant.
### How This Grammar Works
Pour comprendre comment cette grammaire fonctionne, il faut d'abord analyser la logique anglo-saxonne du temps. En français, nous utilisons le présent pour une action qui se déroule au moment où nous parlons : « C'est la deuxième fois que je perds mes clés ». L'accent est mis sur l'état actuel.
En anglais, on utilise le Present Perfect (have/has + participe passé). Pourquoi ? Parce que cette structure ne décrit pas seulement l'action présente, elle fait le bilan de ton expérience de vie jusqu'à cet instant précis.
Quand tu dis It's the second time I've lost my keys, tu indiques que dans toute la chronologie de ta vie, cet événement s'est produit deux fois, incluant celle-ci.
Voici les composants de cette structure :
  1. 1L'introducteur (It's ou This is) : On pointe du doigt le moment présent. It's est la contraction de It is, très naturelle à l'oral. This is est un peu plus démonstratif, on l'utilise souvent pour insister sur la situation actuelle.
  2. 2L'article défini (the) : Obligatoire ! On parle d'une occurrence spécifique (la première, la deuxième, etc.).
  3. 3Le nombre ordinal (first, second, third...) : C'est ici que tu comptes. Attention à ne pas utiliser les nombres cardinaux (one, two, three).
  4. 4Le nom (time) : Ici, time ne signifie pas « le temps » qui passe, mais « une fois » ou « une occurrence ».
  5. 5Le lien optionnel (that) : Comme souvent en anglais, le that est facultatif. À l'oral, on le supprime presque toujours pour fluidifier la phrase.
  6. 6Le cœur de la phrase (Subject + Present Perfect) : C'est ici que le piège se referme sur les francophones. Il faut impérativement utiliser have/has + le participe passé du verbe.
### Formation Pattern
La construction suit un ordre strict. Voici comment assembler tes phrases sans faire d'erreur :
| Composant | Choix possibles | Exemple concret |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| Introduction | It's / This is | It's |
| Article | the | the |
| Nombre Ordinal | first, second, third, fourth... | third |
| Nom | time | time |
| Conjonction | (that) - optionnel | (that) |
| Sujet | I, you, he, she, we, they | she |
| Auxiliaire | have / has | has |
| Participe Passé | Verbe au participe passé | called |
| Complément | Reste de la phrase | me today |
Exemple complet : It's the third time (that) she has called me today.
Regardons de plus près les nombres ordinaux, car ils sont essentiels ici :
  • 1er : first
  • 2e : second
  • 3e : third
  • 4e : fourth
  • 5e : fifth (attention à l'orthographe, on ne dit pas fiveth)
  • 10e : tenth
  • Dernière : last (on peut aussi dire It's the last time I've... bien que ce soit plus rare).
Note sur la contraction : Dans la vie de tous les jours, on contracte presque toujours le sujet et l'auxiliaire.
  • I have devient I've
  • He has devient He's
  • It is devient It's
Exemple naturel : It's the first time I've seen this movie.
### When To Use It
Cette structure s'utilise dans quatre contextes principaux que tu rencontreras souvent :
  1. 1Marquer la nouveauté absolue (first time) :
C'est l'usage le plus fréquent. Tu découvres quelque chose, tu es surpris ou émerveillé.
  • It's the first time I've been to New York. (C'est la première fois que je vais à New York).
  • This is the first time I've tasted such a good croissant. (C'est la première fois que je goûte un si bon croissant — oui, même à Paris !).
  1. 1Souligner la répétition ou l'habitude (second, third, fourth time) :
On utilise cela pour montrer qu'une expérience s'accumule.
  • It's the second time we've met, isn't it? (C'est la deuxième fois qu'on se rencontre, n'est-ce pas ?).
  • This is the fifth time they've changed the menu this month. (C'est la cinquième fois qu'ils changent le menu ce mois-ci).
  1. 1Exprimer l'agacement ou l'insistance :
C'est très utile au bureau ou dans la vie quotidienne quand on perd patience.
  • It's the fourth time I've asked you to send that email! (C'est la quatrième fois que je te demande d'envoyer cet e-mail !).
  • This is the third time my train has been late this week. (C'est la troisième fois que mon train est en retard cette semaine).
  1. 1Faire un bilan d'expérience avec ever :
On ajoute souvent ever pour renforcer l'idée que c'est une première historique dans notre vie.
  • It's the first time I've ever traveled alone. (C'est la toute première fois de ma vie que je voyage seul).
### Common Mistakes
En tant que prof, je vois les mêmes erreurs revenir sans cesse chez mes élèves français. C'est normal, c'est ce qu'on appelle l'interférence linguistique (ton cerveau français essaie de prendre le contrôle).
1. Le piège du présent simple (L'erreur n°1)
  • Faux : *It's the first time I see this.* (Traduction directe de « C'est la première fois que je vois ça »).
  • Juste : It's the first time I've seen this.
  • Pourquoi ? En anglais, le présent simple exprime une habitude ou une vérité générale. Or, ici, tu parles d'une expérience qui vient d'aboutir à cet instant.
2. Le piège du prétérit (Simple Past)
  • Faux : *It's the first time I went to London.*
  • Juste : It's the first time I've been to London.
  • Pourquoi ? Le prétérit coupe le lien avec le présent. Si tu dis It's (c'est maintenant), tu ne peux pas utiliser un temps qui appartient exclusivement au passé révolu.
3. L'oubli de l'article the
  • Faux : *It's first time I've eaten sushi.*
  • Juste : It's the first time I've eaten sushi.
  • Pourquoi ? En anglais, les nombres ordinaux qui définissent un rang précis dans une série ont presque toujours besoin de the.
4. Confondre cardinal et ordinal
  • Faux : *It's the two time I've been here.*
  • Juste : It's the second time I've been here.
  • Pourquoi ? On ne compte pas la quantité totale (two times), on désigne la position de cette occurrence précise (the second time).
### Contrast With Similar Patterns
Il est facile de confondre cette structure avec d'autres façons de parler de la fréquence. Regardons les différences :
| Structure | Signification | Exemple |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| It's the first time I've... | Focus sur l'occurrence actuelle (le rang). | It's the second time I've seen him. (C'est la 2e fois...). |
| I have [verb] [number] times | Focus sur la quantité totale d'expériences. | I've seen him twice. (Je l'ai vu deux fois). |
| It was the first time I had... | On raconte une histoire au passé (Past Perfect). | It was the first time I'd seen him. (C'était la 1ère fois...). |
| I'm [verb]ing for the first time | Focus sur l'action en cours de réalisation. | I'm driving for the first time. (Je conduis pour la 1ère fois). |
La nuance entre I've been there twice et It's the second time I've been there :
La première phrase est purement informative, on donne un chiffre. La deuxième phrase (notre structure du jour) est plus narrative, elle met l'accent sur l'instant présent : « Voilà, nous y sommes, c'est la deuxième fois ».
Le passage au passé :
Si tu racontes un souvenir, tout bascule d'un cran dans le passé.
  • Présent : It's the first time I've seen it.
  • Passé : It was the first time I had seen it.
C'est ce qu'on appelle la concordance des temps. Si le début de ta phrase est au passé (It was), la suite doit être au Past Perfect (had + participe passé).
### Quick FAQ
1. Est-ce que je peux dire It's the first time for me to... ?
C'est possible, mais beaucoup moins naturel et moins fréquent que la structure avec le Present Perfect. On l'utilisera plutôt pour des choses infiniment simples comme It's the first time for me to speak in public, mais It's the first time I've spoken in public reste la référence absolue pour sonner comme un natif.
2. Pourquoi ne pas dire It's my first time ?
Tu peux ! It's my first time in Paris est tout à fait correct. Cependant, cette structure est limitée car elle ne permet pas d'ajouter facilement une action complexe derrière.
It's the first time I've driven a manual car est bien plus précis que It's my first time driving a manual car, bien que les deux se disent.
3. Est-ce que that change le sens de la phrase ?
Pas du tout. It's the first time that I've been here et It's the first time I've been here sont strictement identiques en termes de sens. Le that rend simplement la phrase un peu plus formelle ou plus lente. Dans une conversation dynamique au café ou entre collègues, oublie le that.
4. Que se passe-t-il si je parle d'une habitude négative ?
La structure reste la même ! It's the first time I haven't finished my homework. (C'est la première fois que je n'ai pas fini mes devoirs). On utilise simplement la forme négative du Present Perfect.
En résumé, garde en tête que pour un anglophone, compter ses expériences, c'est faire le lien entre son passé et son présent. Oublie le présent simple français et embrasse le Present Perfect. C'est le secret pour ne plus passer pour un touriste de la langue et commencer à parler avec la profondeur d'un utilisateur intermédiaire confiant.
T'inquiète pas, avec un peu d'entraînement, le I've viendra tout seul !

Present Perfect Structure with Ordinals

Introductory Phrase Subject Auxiliary (Have/Has) Past Participle Rest of Sentence
It's the first time
I
have
seen
this.
It's the second time
you
have
been
here.
It's the third time
he
has
called
me.
It's the fourth time
she
has
lost
it.
It's the fifth time
it
has
rained
today.
It's the sixth time
we
have
met
them.
It's the seventh time
they
have
tried
this.

Common Contractions

Full Form Contracted Form Usage Note
It is the first time
It's the first time
Most common in speech
I have seen
I've seen
Standard informal/neutral
He has been
He's been
Standard informal/neutral
It was the first time
It was the first time
No contraction for 'was'
I had seen
I'd seen
Standard for Past Perfect

Meanings

A specific construction used to indicate the frequency or order of an experience within a person's lifetime or a specific period.

1

Current Experience

Describing an event happening right now as a numbered occurrence in your life.

“It's the first time I've ever eaten sushi.”

“This is the second time she has lost her keys this week.”

2

Past Experience

Describing a past event as a numbered occurrence relative to that specific time in the past.

“It was the first time I had ever felt so nervous.”

“That was the second time they had met.”

3

Emphasis with 'Ever'

Using 'ever' to add emphasis to the uniqueness or rarity of the experience.

“It's the first time I've ever seen a whale.”

“This is the third time I've ever had to do this.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Compter les expériences : La première, deuxième, troisième fois
Type d'expérience Structure Exemple de phrase Ce que ça signifie
Première fois
`It's the first time + (that) + S + Present Perfect`
`It's the first time I've tried durian.`
"Je n'ai jamais essayé le durian avant ce moment."
Deuxième fois
`It's the second time + (that) + S + Present Perfect`
`This is the second time she's seen a Broadway show.`
"Elle a vu un spectacle de Broadway une fois avant celui-ci."
Répété (plusieurs fois)
`It's the Nth time + (that) + S + Present Perfect`
`It's the tenth time they've flown on this airline.`
"Ils ont déjà pris cette compagnie aérienne neuf fois."
Souligner le moment présent
`It's the Xth time + (that) + S + Present Perfect`
`It's the first time I've felt this calm all week.`
"Je ne me suis pas senti aussi calme avant maintenant, cette semaine."
Version formelle
`This is the first time + (that) + S + Present Perfect`
`This is the first time I have submitted a formal complaint.`
"C'est ma première expérience de dépôt d'une plainte formelle."
Version informelle
`It's the first time + (that) + S + Present Perfect`
`It's the first time I've actually aced a test!`
"Je n'ai pas eu une note parfaite à un examen avant maintenant."

Spectre de formalité

Formel
This marks the first occasion on which I have visited this establishment.

This marks the first occasion on which I have visited this establishment. (Dining out)

Neutre
It's the first time I've been to this restaurant.

It's the first time I've been to this restaurant. (Dining out)

Informel
First time I've ever been here!

First time I've ever been here! (Dining out)

Argot
Never been here before, man.

Never been here before, man. (Dining out)

Compter tes expériences

It's the Nth time I've...

Composants clés

  • 'It's / This is' Phrase d'introduction
  • 'the' Article défini (crucial !)
  • Ordinal Number premier, deuxième, troisième...
  • 'time' Indicateur d'instance
  • Present Perfect have/has + participe passé

Utilisations courantes

  • First-ever experience Nouveauté
  • Repeated actions Combien de fois quelque chose s'est produit
  • Emphasizing current moment Connexion au présent
  • Life stories Partager l'histoire personnelle

Ne pas confondre avec

  • Simple Past Pour les événements passés, uniques et terminés
  • 'X times' Fréquence générale, pas instance spécifique
  • Future Tenses Pour les plans futurs

'It's the Nth Time' vs. 'X Times'

It's the Nth time I've...
It's the first time I've seen this. Met en évidence cette instance spécifique comme étant la première.
This is the third time she's been late. Souligne l'instance actuelle dans une séquence.
It's the tenth time I've tried this recipe. Se concentre sur l'ordre/la progression des tentatives.
I've done X times.
I've seen this movie once. Simple affirmation de la fréquence totale.
She's been late three times. Indique le nombre total d'occurrences.
I've tried this recipe ten times. Rapporte le nombre cumulé de tentatives.

Choisir 'It's the Nth time I've...'

1

Parles-tu de combien de fois quelque chose s'est produit jusqu'à MAINTENANT ?

YES
Passe à l'étape 2.
NO
Utilise le Simple Past ou un autre temps.
2

Est-ce une instance spécifique et numérotée (première, deuxième, troisième, etc.) ?

YES
Utilise 'It's the + Nombre Ordinal + time'.
NO
Utilise 'X times' pour la fréquence générale.
3

L'action est-elle terminée ou en cours, en lien avec le présent ?

YES
Utilise le Present Perfect (have/has + participe passé).
NO
Réévalue. Cette structure nécessite le Present Perfect pour les expériences.

Quand utiliser 'It's the Nth Time'

🎉

Premières fois

  • • Première fois que tu goûtes un plat
  • • Première fois que tu visites un pays
  • • Première fois que tu vois un phénomène
💖

Joie répétée

  • • Deuxième fois que tu regardes un film préféré
  • • Troisième fois que tu lis un livre adoré
  • • Quatrième fois que tu écoutes un album
exasperated_face

Agacement répété

  • • Cinquième fois que tu perds tes clés
  • • Deuxième fois que tu rates un bus
  • • Troisième fois qu'un ami est en retard
🏆

Étapes importantes

  • • Dixième fois que tu cours un marathon
  • • Première fois que tu obtiens une promotion
  • • Troisième fois que tu atteins un objectif
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Exemples par niveau

1

This is my first time here.

This is my first time here.

2

It is my first time in London.

It is my first time in London.

3

Is it your first time?

Is it your first time?

4

This is the first time for me.

This is the first time for me.

1

It's the first time I have been to this shop.

It's the first time I have been to this shop.

2

This is the second time she has called.

This is the second time she has called.

3

It is the third time he has lost his pen.

It is the third time he has lost his pen.

4

Is this the first time you have seen this movie?

Is this the first time you have seen this movie?

1

It's the first time I've ever driven a car.

It's the first time I've ever driven a car.

2

This is the second time that I've had to tell you to be quiet.

This is the second time that I've had to tell you to be quiet.

3

It's the third time he's failed the test this year.

It's the third time he's failed the test this year.

4

Is it the first time you've stayed in a five-star hotel?

Is it the first time you've stayed in a five-star hotel?

1

It was the first time I'd ever seen such a beautiful sunset.

It was the first time I'd ever seen such a beautiful sunset.

2

That was the third time they had broken up that month.

That was the third time they had broken up that month.

3

This is the only time I have ever felt truly understood.

This is the only time I have ever felt truly understood.

4

It wasn't the first time he'd been late for a meeting.

It wasn't the first time he'd been late for a meeting.

1

This marks the first time that the two nations have signed a peace treaty.

This marks the first time that the two nations have signed a peace treaty.

2

It was the first time that the theory had been put to a rigorous test.

It was the first time that the theory had been put to a rigorous test.

3

This is the fourth time this week that the system has crashed unexpectedly.

This is the fourth time this week that the system has crashed unexpectedly.

4

Rarely is it the first time that a genius has been recognized in their own era.

Rarely is it the first time that a genius has been recognized in their own era.

1

Should this be the first time you have encountered such a clause, please seek legal counsel.

Should this be the first time you have encountered such a clause, please seek legal counsel.

2

It was the first time that the protagonist had been forced to confront his own mortality.

It was the first time that the protagonist had been forced to confront his own mortality.

3

This is by no means the first time that the public has been misled by such rhetoric.

This is by no means the first time that the public has been misled by such rhetoric.

4

The 1920s represented the first time that women had been granted the right to vote in many countries.

The 1920s represented the first time that women had been granted the right to vote in many countries.

Facile à confondre

Counting Experiences: First, Second, Third Time vs Simple Past vs. Present Perfect

Learners often use Simple Past because the event feels finished.

Counting Experiences: First, Second, Third Time vs This is my first time vs. It's the first time I've...

Learners try to mix the two structures.

Counting Experiences: First, Second, Third Time vs Once vs. First Time

Using 'once' to mean 'the first time'.

Erreurs courantes

✗

It is first time I see this.

✓

It is the first time I have seen this.

Missing the article 'the' and using simple present instead of present perfect.
✗

This is my one time here.

✓

This is my first time here.

Using a cardinal number (one) instead of an ordinal number (first).
✗

It's the first time I am here.

✓

It's the first time I've been here.

Using 'am' (simple present) instead of 'have been'.
✗

It is the first time for see him.

✓

It is the first time I have seen him.

Using 'for + infinitive' which is a common literal translation from some Romance languages.
✗

It's the second time I'm calling you.

✓

It's the second time I've called you.

Using Present Continuous instead of Present Perfect.
✗

This is the third time he has lose his keys.

✓

This is the third time he has lost his keys.

Using the base form of the verb instead of the past participle.
✗

It's the first time I have went there.

✓

It's the first time I have been there.

Using 'went' (past simple) instead of 'been' (past participle).
✗

It was the first time I have seen it.

✓

It was the first time I had seen it.

Tense mismatch: 'was' (past) requires 'had seen' (past perfect).
✗

It's the first time I've ever saw him.

✓

It's the first time I've ever seen him.

Incorrect verb form after 'have'.
✗

Is it the first time you are visiting?

✓

Is it the first time you have visited?

Using present continuous in a question.
✗

This is the first time that he would have seen it.

✓

This is the first time that he has seen it.

Over-complicating with conditional 'would have' when a simple present perfect is needed.
✗

It's the first time I've ever been being here.

✓

It's the first time I've ever been here.

Incorrect use of the progressive perfect.
✗

That marks the first time she has had been invited.

✓

That marks the first time she has been invited.

Double auxiliary error.

Structures de phrases

It's the first time I've ever ___.

This is the second time ___ has ___ this week.

It was the first time they had ever ___.

Is it the first time you've ___?

Real World Usage

Travel & Tourism constant

It's the first time I've been to the Eiffel Tower!

Customer Service very common

This is the second time I've had to call about my internet connection.

Social Media common

First time I've ever tried blue hair! What do you think?

Job Interviews occasional

This is the third time I have applied for a position at this firm.

Dating common

It's the first time I've felt this way about someone.

Doctor's Office occasional

Is this the first time you've experienced this pain?

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💡

Always use 'the'

N'oublie jamais d'ajouter the devant le nombre ordinal (par exemple, the first time, the second time). Dire "It's first time..." sonne bizarre et n'est pas correct grammaticalement.
⚠️

Present Perfect is Key

N'utilise pas le Simple Past après It's the Xth time. Pour les expériences qui durent jusqu'à maintenant, tu as besoin du Present Perfect (par exemple, I've seen, she's done). "It's the first time I saw" est une erreur très courante !
🎯

'Ever' for emphasis

Tu veux vraiment insister sur une expérience unique ? Ajoute ever après I've ou she's. Par exemple, "It's the first time I've ever tasted durian!" rend la chose encore plus spéciale.
🌍

Share your 'firsts'

Dans les cultures anglophones, parler de tes premières fois (première fois que tu fais quelque chose, première visite quelque part) est une super façon de créer des liens et de partager des expériences personnelles. C'est un excellent sujet de conversation !
💡

'That' is optional

Tu peux souvent laisser tomber that après time dans cette structure, surtout à l'oral. Les deux It's the first time I've been et It's the first time that I've been sont corrects.

Smart Tips

Stop! Change 'am' to 'have been'.

It's the first time I am in New York. → It's the first time I've been to New York.

If you start with 'It was', you must use 'had'.

It was the first time I have seen a mountain. → It was the first time I had seen a mountain.

Add 'ever' right before the past participle.

It's the first time I've seen this. → It's the first time I've ever seen this.

Treat 'the only time' exactly like 'the first time'.

This is the only time I see him. → This is the only time I have seen him.

Prononciation

It's the FIRST time I've been here.

Stress on Ordinals

In the phrase 'It's the first time,' the word 'first' (or second, third) usually receives the primary sentence stress to emphasize the order.

/aɪv/ becomes /əv/ or just /v/

Contraction Reduction

The 've' in 'I've' or 's' in 'he's' is often very short and almost disappears in fast speech.

Rising-Falling on Ordinal

It's the ↗FIRST↘ time...

Conveys surprise or significance of the event.

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

First time? Perfect time! (Always use the Perfect tense for the first time).

Association visuelle

Imagine a timeline of your life. Every time you do something new, you put a gold star on the timeline. The 'Present Perfect' is the string connecting your current star back to the beginning of the line.

Rhyme

When it's the first or second time, Present Perfect makes it rhyme!

Story

Imagine a traveler named Tim. Every time Tim enters a new country, he says, 'It's the first time I've been here!' He uses 'have been' because he's carrying his passport (his past) with him into the new country (the present).

Word Web

FirstSecondThirdTimeHaveHasBeenEver

Défi

Look around your room. Find three things you are doing for the 'first time' today (e.g., 'It's the first time I've opened this book today') and say them out loud.

Notes culturelles

British speakers are very strict about using the Present Perfect with 'first time'. Using the Simple Past ('It's the first time I went') sounds much more 'wrong' to a British ear than to some American ears.

While the Present Perfect is the standard, in very casual American speech, you might occasionally hear the Simple Past ('It's the first time I saw that'), though it is still technically incorrect in formal grammar.

Using 'This marks the first time...' is a common way to start press releases or formal announcements in English-speaking corporate environments.

The use of the perfect aspect with ordinals developed as English moved away from using the simple present for all 'state' descriptions in the Middle English period.

Amorces de conversation

“

Is this the first time you've used an app to learn English?

“

Tell me about the first time you've ever traveled alone.

“

How many times have you seen your favorite movie?

“

Is it the first time you've eaten spicy food?

Sujets d'écriture

Write about a 'first time' experience that was very important to you (e.g., first time you drove, first time you met a best friend).
Describe your current day using at least three ordinal experiences (e.g., 'This is the second time I've had coffee today').
Imagine you are a world traveler. Write a postcard about your first time in a fictional country.
Reflect on your English learning journey. When was the first time you felt confident speaking?

Erreurs courantes

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Test Yourself

Choisis la forme correcte pour compléter la phrase.

It's the first time I ___ sushi.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: have eaten
Pour les expériences jusqu'à présent, nous utilisons le temps Present Perfect après 'It's the first time'.
Trouve et corrige l'erreur dans la phrase. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

This is second time I've seen that movie.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: This is the second time I've seen that movie.
Tu dois inclure l'article défini 'the' avant le nombre ordinal 'second'.
Quelle phrase utilise correctement la structure 'Nth time' ? Choix multiple

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: It's the first time I've been to Paris.
La structure correcte utilise 'the' avant le nombre ordinal et le temps Present Perfect ('I've been').

Score: /3

Exercices pratiques

8 exercises
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the verb in parentheses.

It's the first time I ___ (see) such a big dog!

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: have seen
After 'It's the first time,' we use the Present Perfect (have + past participle).
Find the mistake in the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

It is the second time I am visiting London.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: am visiting
The present continuous 'am visiting' should be the present perfect 'have visited'.
Which sentence is grammatically correct? Choix multiple

Select the correct option:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: It was the first time I had been there.
When the main verb is 'was', the following clause must be in the Past Perfect.
Put the words in the correct order. Sentence Reorder

time / the / it's / I've / third / called / him

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: It's the third time I've called him
The structure is: It's + the + ordinal + time + subject + perfect tense.
Match the start of the sentence with the correct ending. Match Pairs

1. It's the first time... | 2. It was the first time... | 3. This is the only time...

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 1-I've eaten this, 2-I'd eaten this, 3-I've ever felt this
Present intro matches Present Perfect; Past intro matches Past Perfect.
Choose the best response for the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Do you like this pizza? B: Yes! ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: It's the first time I've tried it
The Present Perfect is used to describe a new experience in the present.
Is the following rule true or false? True False Rule

You can use the Simple Present after 'It's the first time' if the action is happening right now.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
Even if the action is happening now, English requires the Present Perfect for this construction.
Build a sentence using: (It / be / second time / she / lose / phone) Sentence Building

What is the correct sentence?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: It's the second time she has lost her phone.
Requires 'It's the [ordinal] time' + Present Perfect.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

12 exercises
Complète la phrase avec la forme verbale correcte. Texte trous

It's the fifth time she ___ her keys this week!

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: has lost
Identifie et corrige l'erreur grammaticale. Error Correction

I think it's the first time I ever feel so tired.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I think it's the first time I've ever felt so tired.
Sélectionne la phrase grammaticalement correcte. Choix multiple

Which sentence is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: This is the third time they've visited this museum.
Traduis la phrase en anglais. Traduction

Translate: 'È la prima volta che ho visto un'aurora boreale.'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ["It's the first time I've seen a northern light.","It's the first time I have seen a northern light.","This is the first time I've seen a northern light.","This is the first time I have seen a northern light."]
Arrange les mots pour former une phrase correcte. Sentence Reorder

Arrange these words into a sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: It's the first time I've ever tried skydiving.
Associe le début de la phrase à sa bonne fin. Match Pairs

Match the phrases:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: matched
Choisis le mot correct pour compléter la phrase. Texte trous

I can't believe it; this is my ___ time trying to bake this cake!

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: first
Corrige l'erreur dans la phrase donnée. Error Correction

It was the first time I have visited New York.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: It's the first time I've visited New York.
Sélectionne l'option qui utilise correctement le nombre ordinal. Choix multiple

Which sentence is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: This is the fifth time I've read this book.
Traduis la phrase en anglais. Traduction

Translate: 'Questa è la seconda volta che ho parlato con il direttore.'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ["This is the second time I've spoken with the manager.","This is the second time I have spoken with the manager.","It's the second time I've spoken with the manager.","It's the second time I have spoken with the manager."]
Mets les mots dans le bon ordre pour former une phrase. Sentence Reorder

Arrange these words into a sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: This is the first time that I've seen my mother cry.
Associe le scénario à l'expression 'Nth time' appropriée. Match Pairs

Match the scenarios:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: matched

Score: /12

FAQ (8)

Yes, but only if you follow it with a noun or prepositional phrase (e.g., 'This is my first time in Japan'). If you want to use a verb, you must use the 'It's the first time I have...' structure.

In English, the Simple Present is for habits or general truths. A 'first time' is an experience that connects your past to now, which is the specific function of the Present Perfect.

No, 'that' is optional. 'It's the first time I've been here' and 'It's the first time that I've been here' are both correct, though the version without 'that' is more common in speech.

For the future, we usually use the Future Perfect: 'By next week, it will be the third time I have visited him.' However, this is quite advanced and less common.

Adding 'ever' is very common in spoken English because it adds emphasis to the newness of the experience.

Yes! 'This is the last time I have helped you!' (though 'This is the last time I am helping you' is also used for future intent).

Usually 'been' is used if you are currently at the place. 'Gone' is used if you are talking about the trip as a completed action.

The most common mistake is using the Simple Past: 'It's the first time I saw it.' Remember, if the first part is 'It IS', the second part must be 'have/has'.

Scaffolded Practice

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Mastery Progress

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In Other Languages

Spanish low

Es la primera vez que [presente]

English uses perfect aspect; Spanish uses present tense.

French low

C'est la première fois que [présent]

French logic is 'it is happening now'; English logic is 'it has happened until now'.

German low

Es ist das erste Mal, dass [Präsens]

German uses simple present.

Japanese none

...no wa hajimete desu

Japanese uses a noun-based construction ('the coming is the first time').

Arabic low

هذه هي المرة الأولى التي [present]

Arabic does not use a perfective aspect here.

Chinese none

这是我第一次 [verb]

Chinese relies on word order and particles rather than verb aspect.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Présent Perfect: Actions Répétées (Expériences de Vie)
Next
Présent Perfect avec Superlatifs (le meilleur que j'aie jamais...)

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