Counting Experiences: First, Second, Third Time
It's the first time I've... to confidently share your unique life experiences.
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.'
Overview
This shows how many times you did something until now.
It moves beyond simply stating I have done X to specifying This is the [Nth] instance of my having done X.
Use this to share your life. It shows something is new.
Conjugation Table
| Structure Component | Example 1 | Example 2 | Example 3 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| :-------------------- | :-------------------------------------- | :---------------------------------------- | :--------------------------------------------- | ||
| Initiator | It's |
This is |
It's |
||
| Article | the |
the |
the |
||
| Ordinal Number | first |
second |
third |
||
| Noun | time |
time |
time |
||
Optional that |
(that) |
(that) |
(that) |
||
| Subject | I |
she |
we |
||
| Present Perfect | have ever seen |
has visited |
have discussed |
||
| Full Sentence | It's the first time I've ever seen snow. |
This is the second time she's visited London. |
It's the third time we've discussed this topic. |
How This Grammar Works
- 1Identification (
It's/This is): These phrases introduce the statement, pointing to the current moment or situation. They act as demonstratives, drawing attention tothisparticular instance.
It's the first time I've baked a cake.This is the second time they've offered me the job.
- 1Definite Articulation (
the): The definite articletheis crucial. It signals that you are referring to a specific and identifiable instance among potentially many. Withoutthe, the phrase would sound incomplete or ungrammatical. ConsiderIt's first time I've eaten sushi– this is incorrect because it lacks the specificity provided bythe.
- 1Quantification (
ordinal number+time): The core of the counting experience lies here. An ordinal number (e.g.,first,second,third) directly assigns a position in a sequence, whiletimeacts as a noun meaning 'instance' or 'occasion'. This combination precisely quantifies how many times an experience has occurred up to now.
It's the fifth time I've called customer service.(Highlights the repetition and possible frustration.)
- 1Connection to Present (
Subject + Present Perfect): The use of the Present Perfect tense (have/has+ past participle) is non-negotiable for this structure when discussing experiences up to the present. The Present Perfect explicitly connects an action or state that began or occurred in the past to the present moment, emphasizing its current relevance, continuity, or completion within your life experience. It communicates that the counted instance is part of your life's cumulative experiences up to this point. If you use the Simple Past (It's the first time I went to Japan), you remove this present connection, making the statement grammatically inconsistent in standard usage for this pattern. Instead,It's the first time I've been to Japancorrectly frames it as an experience acquired by the present.
- 1Optional Conjunction (
that): The wordthatfunctions as a conjunction introducing a clause. While grammatically correct to include it, it is often omitted in informal and even many formal contexts, especially in spoken English. Its omission creates a slightly more streamlined sentence structure.
It's the first time I've seen that movie.(Implicitthat)It's the first time that I've seen that movie.(Explicitthat)
Formation Pattern
It's the fourth time I've updated my resume.
This is the second time we've had this conversation.
It's the first time I've attended a virtual reality concert.
[ordinal number]: This is where you specify the count. Ordinal numbers include first, second, third, fourth, fifth, tenth, hundredth, etc. Ensure you use an ordinal, not a cardinal number (e.g., not one, two, three).
It's the third time I've read this novel.
This is the first time I've visited Australia.
It's the first time (that) I've tried authentic Mexican food.
It's the second time she has traveled alone.
It's the fifth time I have forgotten my umbrella.
This is the first time he has seen snow.
When To Use It
- Highlighting a Novel or Unique Experience (especially
first time): This is perhaps the most common application. When something is entirely new to you, this structure is perfect for expressing that novelty and the significance of the experience. It's the first time I've ever seen the ocean.(Emphasizes the wonder of a new experience.)This is the first time I've eaten vegetarian food for a whole week.(Marks a personal milestone or new habit.)
- Quantifying Repeated Experiences (e.g.,
second time,third time, etc.): Beyond the first, this pattern allows you to specify the exact number of times an event has taken place, indicating a progression, habit, or a growing familiarity. It's the second time I've visited this art gallery.(Suggests a returning interest or deeper appreciation.)This is the third time he's failed his driving test.(Communicates a repeated challenge.)
- Emphasizing the Significance or Impact of the Current Instance: The ordinal number doesn't just count; it can also add weight to the current event. The fact that it's
the fifth timesomething has happened often implies a consequence, a feeling (like frustration or joy), or a trend. It's the tenth time I've reviewed these documents; I need a break.(Implies exhaustion or meticulousness.)This is the best time I've ever had at a concert.(Usingbestas an ordinal in context ofthe first/second time, but emphasizing a superlative experience.)
- Connecting Past Actions to Present Feelings or States: The Present Perfect inherently links the past to the present. When combined with the ordinal structure, it highlights how a past experience, specifically its count, contributes to a current feeling, understanding, or result.
It's the first time I've felt completely relaxed in months.(The experience of relaxation is new or long-awaited, impacting the present mood.)This is the fourth time they've postponed the meeting, and I'm getting frustrated.(The repetition leads to a present emotional state.)
- A Subtle Cultural Observation: In English-speaking cultures, sharing "firsts" is a common way to build rapport and convey personal narratives. This structure is a natural linguistic tool for doing so, often appearing in casual conversations, travel stories, and introductions.
When Not To Use It
- For Simple, Completed Past Actions without Present Relevance: If you are merely stating an action that occurred at a specific point in the past and has no ongoing connection to the present, the Simple Past is appropriate. Do not force the
Xth timestructure. - Incorrect:
It was the first time I ate sushi yesterday.(Unless emphasizing a past "first" in a narrative sequence, which is a different structure – see "Contrast" section.) - Correct:
I ate sushi yesterday. - Correct:
I watched that movie last night.(NotIt's the first time I've watched that movie last night)
- For General Frequency or Habits: If your aim is to express how often something generally occurs or your routine, different adverbs of frequency or specific time expressions are more suitable. This structure is about counting specific instances, not general patterns.
- Incorrect:
It's the many times I've gone to the gym. - Correct:
I go to the gym many times a week.orI often go to the gym. - Correct:
I eat sushi three times a month.(NotIt's the three times I've eaten sushi a month)
- For Future Plans or Intentions: The
It's the Xth time I've...structure inherently refers to experiences that have already happened up to the present. For future events, even if they are "firsts," use future tenses combined with adverbial phrases likefor the first time. - Incorrect:
It's the first time I will have visited Rome next year. - Correct:
I will visit Rome for the first time next year. - Correct:
She's planning to try skydiving for the first time on her birthday.
- When Referring to a Past Event from a Past Perspective: If you are recounting a past narrative and want to mention that something was a "first" at that time (looking back from a point in the past), you would typically use
It was the first time...followed by the Past Perfect or Simple Past, depending on context and sequence of events. This is distinct from connecting to the present. When I was five, it was the first time I had ever seen a computer.(Past Perfect: a first experience before another past event.)We arrived at the beach, and it was the first time I saw the Pacific Ocean.(Simple Past: a first experience coincident with a past narrative point.)
Common Mistakes
- Omitting the Definite Article
the: This is arguably the most frequent error. The articletheis crucial because it specifies which instance (e.g.,the first,the second) is being referred to. Without it, the phrase feels grammatically incomplete and unnatural. - Incorrect:
It's first time I've cooked paella. - Correct:
It's the first time I've cooked paella. - Reason:
first timeacts as a specific noun phrase modifier here, requiring a definite article like other specific noun phrases (e.g.,the tallest building,the red car).
- Using Cardinal Numbers Instead of Ordinal Numbers: Ordinal numbers (
first,second,third) denote position in a sequence, which is the exact function required here. Cardinal numbers (one,two,three) simply denote quantity, which changes the meaning or renders the phrase ungrammatical in this context. - Incorrect:
This is two time I've seen that play. - Correct:
This is the second time I've seen that play. - Reason: The structure is about the order of experiences, not just the raw count. Think of it as
first place,second place– always ordinals.
- Using the Simple Past Tense Instead of Present Perfect: This is a critical error that fundamentally misunderstands the purpose of the structure. The
It's the Xth time...pattern specifically connects a past experience to its present state or relevance. The Simple Past, by contrast, describes actions completed entirely in the past with no direct link to the present. - Incorrect:
It's the first time I went to New York.(Implies the experience is isolated to a past point, contradicting the present connection ofIt's.) - Correct:
It's the first time I've been to New York. - Reason: The Present Perfect (
have been) emphasizes that the experience of visiting New York is part of your cumulative life experiences up to this very moment. The Simple Past (went) would only describe a trip that occurred at a specific past time, severing the essential present link.
- Incorrect Past Participle Form: Even when using the Present Perfect correctly, learners sometimes use the simple past form of the verb instead of the past participle, especially with irregular verbs.
- Incorrect:
It's the second time she has wrote a novel. - Correct:
It's the second time she has written a novel. - Reason: The Present Perfect always requires the past participle (e.g.,
write - wrote - written,see - saw - seen,eat - ate - eaten). Review irregular verb lists.
- Subject-Verb Agreement Errors with
have/has: The auxiliary verbhaveorhasmust agree with the subject of the clause following(that). Learners sometimes confuse this, particularly with third-person singular subjects. - Incorrect:
It's the third time he have forgotten his keys. - Correct:
It's the third time he has forgotten his keys. - Reason:
He,She,It, and singular nouns takehas.I,You,We,They, and plural nouns takehave.
Memory Trick
Give each action a number. Say the first or second time.
The shows one special time. It is like a light.
- Ordinal for Order: Ordinal numbers (first, second, third) are all about order and sequence. They help you line up your experiences. The word ordinal itself sounds like order!
Imagine a line from the past to now. Use this line.
So, when counting experiences, always ask yourself:
Is this a special time? Use the.
2. Am I talking about its order in a sequence? (If yes, use an ordinal number)
3. Does this past experience still matter to me now? (If yes, use Present Perfect)
Real Conversations
This pattern is highly prevalent in authentic English communication, reflecting its utility in personal narrative, expressing novelty, and recounting repeated events. Observing its use in varied contexts helps solidify understanding.
- Casual Chat with Friends:
- "Wow, this is amazing! It's the first time I've ever seen bioluminescent plankton in person."
- "Ugh, it's the third time she's cancelled our plans this month. I'm starting to get annoyed."
- "Dude, this is the only time I've ever felt completely lost while driving." (Note: only time functions like an ordinal here, meaning 'sole instance'.)
- Professional/Academic Context (slightly more formal):
- "Regarding the project delay, this is the second time we've encountered this specific technical issue."
- "For many students, it's the first time they've had to manage such an independent research project."
- "I appreciate your patience; it's the first time I've presented these findings to a non-scientific audience."
- Social Media / Texting:
- "Just finished Parasite for the fifth time! Still blown away. It's the fifth time I've watched it, and I catch something new every time. #MovieBuff #Masterpiece"
- "Finally climbed Snowdon! It's the first time I've hiked a mountain this big. Legs are burning but views are worth it! #HikingAdventures #Wales"
- "It's the first time I've tried oat milk in my coffee, and honestly, I'm a convert! ☕ #NewFavorite"
- Personal Reflection / Storytelling:
- "Looking back, it was the first time I'd realized how resilient I could be after that challenge." (Note: Use of Past Perfect to describe a past 'first' from a past viewpoint.)
- "I always remember that summer trip; it's the second time I've truly felt that sense of freedom."
These examples demonstrate the versatility of the structure across registers and situations, always conveying the specific order of an experience up to the point of speaking.
Contrast With Similar Patterns
It's the Xth time I've...vs. Simple Statement of Frequency (I've done X [number] times):
I've been to Paris three times.(This sentence simply states the total quantity or frequency of visits. The emphasis is on the number of occurrences.)It's the third time I've been to Paris.(This emphasizes the current visit as the third one in a sequence. It implies a narrative progression, a specific instance's ordinal position, and often carries more weight or context about this particular visit as part of a series.)
- "How many times have you read
Pride and Prejudice?" - "I've read it five times." (Simple frequency.) - "Are you reading
Pride and Prejudiceagain?" - "Yes! It's the fifth time I've read it. I love it so much!" (Emphasizing this particular re-reading as the fifth in the sequence.)
It's the Xth time I've...vs.for the first time(Adverbial Phrase):
I tried skydiving for the first time last year.(Simple Past + adverbial phrase. Focus on the actiontried skydivingand its novelty in the past.)It's the first time I've tried skydiving.(Present Perfect construction. Focus on this instance being the initial experience, connecting it to the present.)
It's the Xth time I've...(Present) vs.It was the Xth time I had/saw...(Past):
It's the first time I've visited London.(Referring to the current visit, or a visit that is currently relevant.)When I was twenty, I went to London. It was the first time I had ever left my home country.(Looking back from a past point, the act of leaving was a 'first' prior to that point in the narrative. Past Perfect here creates a sequence of events in the past.)The roller coaster ride was exhilarating. It was the first time I rode such a fast one.(Simple Past here, describing a first that occurred at a specific past time.)
Progressive Practice
Practice this every day. This helps you learn it well.
Listen and read. Find these words in movies. Stop and think.
- What ordinal number is used?
Who is the person? What is the action?
Why does the person say it this way?
It is the second time I watched this. I watched it again.
Write about your day. Talk to yourself. This helps you remember.
- "Today, it's the first time I've successfully used the new coffee machine."
- "This week, it's the third time I've gone for a run in the morning."
Make your own sentences. Use the correct words.
- Prompt: You are visiting a new city for the first time.
Your sentence: It is the first time I am in Kyoto.
- Prompt: You have forgotten your wallet twice this month.
Your sentence: It is the second time I forgot my wallet.
Talk to a friend. Talk about new things you do.
- "I just started learning calligraphy. It's the first time I've tried anything like it."
- "I'm feeling much better today. It's the first time I've slept through the night in weeks."
Take a simple sentence. Change it to use these words.
- Original: I saw that movie twice.
- Transformed: It's the second time I've seen that movie.
Quick FAQ
This is instead of It's?Yes, This is is grammatically correct and interchangeable with It's. While It's is marginally more common, This is the first time I've flown business class is just as natural as It's the first time I've flown business class. This is can sometimes add a touch more emphasis on the immediate situation.
that always optional?In most everyday contexts, both spoken and written, that is optional and often omitted for conciseness. For example, It's the first time I've been here is perfectly acceptable. Including that (It's the first time that I've been here) can sometimes add a slight degree of formality or a subtle pause, but it doesn't change the core meaning.
It's the Xth time...?The It's the Xth time... structure explicitly links a past experience to its ongoing relevance or status in the present moment. The Present Perfect tense (have/has + past participle) inherently performs this function by connecting past actions or states to the present. Using the Simple Past (It's the first time I went...) would sever this essential present connection, making the statement inconsistent. The Present Perfect tells us that, up until now, this is the Nth instance of the experience.
No, not in its primary form. The structure It's the Xth time I've... refers to experiences that have already occurred relative to the present moment. For future
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.
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.”
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.”
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
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative (Present)
|
It's the [ordinal] time + Present Perfect
|
It's the first time I've eaten this.
|
|
Negative (Present)
|
It's the [ordinal] time + Present Perfect Negative
|
It's the first time I haven't finished my meal.
|
|
Question (Present)
|
Is it the [ordinal] time + Present Perfect?
|
Is it the first time you've been here?
|
|
Affirmative (Past)
|
It was the [ordinal] time + Past Perfect
|
It was the first time I had seen him.
|
|
Negative (Past)
|
It was the [ordinal] time + Past Perfect Negative
|
It was the first time I hadn't felt sick.
|
|
Question (Past)
|
Was it the [ordinal] time + Past Perfect?
|
Was it the first time you had flown?
|
|
With 'Ever'
|
It's the [ordinal] time + have/has + ever + PP
|
It's the first time I've ever seen a ghost.
|
|
Formal
|
This marks the [ordinal] time + that + clause
|
This marks the first time that we have met.
|
Formality Spectrum
This marks the first occasion on which I have visited this establishment. (Dining out)
It's the first time I've been to this restaurant. (Dining out)
First time I've ever been here! (Dining out)
Never been here before, man. (Dining out)
The Experience Connection
Tense
- Present Perfect have/has + PP
Ordinals
- First 1st
- Second 2nd
Present vs. Perfect
Choosing the Tense
Are you using an ordinal (first, second)?
Is the main verb 'is'?
Common Ordinals
Counting
- • First time
- • Second time
- • Third time
Limiting
- • Only time
- • Last time
- • Final time
Examples by Level
This is my first time here.
It is my first time in London.
Is it your first time?
This is the first time for me.
It's the first time I have been to this shop.
This is the second time she has called.
It is the third time he has lost his pen.
Is this the first time you have seen this movie?
It's the first time I've ever driven a car.
This is the second time that I've had to tell you to be quiet.
It's the third time he's failed the test this year.
Is it the first time you've stayed in a five-star hotel?
It was the first time I'd ever seen such a beautiful sunset.
That was the third time they had broken up that month.
This is the only time I have ever felt truly understood.
It wasn't the first time he'd been late for a meeting.
This marks the first time that the two nations have signed a peace treaty.
It was the first time that the theory had been put to a rigorous test.
This is the fourth time this week that the system has crashed unexpectedly.
Rarely is it the first time that a genius has been recognized in their own era.
Should this be the first time you have encountered such a clause, please seek legal counsel.
It was the first time that the protagonist had been forced to confront his own mortality.
This is by no means the first time that the public has been misled by such rhetoric.
The 1920s represented the first time that women had been granted the right to vote in many countries.
Easily Confused
Learners often use Simple Past because the event feels finished.
Learners try to mix the two structures.
Using 'once' to mean 'the first time'.
Common Mistakes
It is first time I see this.
It is the first time I have seen this.
This is my one time here.
This is my first time here.
It's the first time I am here.
It's the first time I've been here.
It is the first time for see him.
It is the first time I have seen him.
It's the second time I'm calling you.
It's the second time I've called you.
This is the third time he has lose his keys.
This is the third time he has lost his keys.
It's the first time I have went there.
It's the first time I have been there.
It was the first time I have seen it.
It was the first time I had seen it.
It's the first time I've ever saw him.
It's the first time I've ever seen him.
Is it the first time you are visiting?
Is it the first time you have visited?
This is the first time that he would have seen it.
This is the first time that he has seen it.
It's the first time I've ever been being here.
It's the first time I've ever been here.
That marks the first time she has had been invited.
That marks the first time she has been invited.
Sentence Patterns
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
It's the first time I've been to the Eiffel Tower!
This is the second time I've had to call about my internet connection.
First time I've ever tried blue hair! What do you think?
This is the third time I have applied for a position at this firm.
It's the first time I've felt this way about someone.
Is this the first time you've experienced this pain?
The 'Ever' Trick
Don't forget 'The'
Past Narrative
Polite Complaints
Smart Tips
Stop! Change 'am' to 'have been'.
If you start with 'It was', you must use 'had'.
Add 'ever' right before the past participle.
Treat 'the only time' exactly like 'the first time'.
Pronunciation
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.
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.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
First time? Perfect time! (Always use the Perfect tense for the first time).
Visual Association
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
Challenge
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.
Cultural Notes
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.
Conversation Starters
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?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
It's the first time I ___ (see) such a big dog!
Find and fix the mistake:
It is the second time I am visiting London.
Select the correct option:
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
A: Do you like this pizza? B: Yes! ___.
You can use the Simple Present after 'It's the first time' if the action is happening right now.
What is the correct sentence?
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesIt's the first time I ___ (see) such a big dog!
Find and fix the mistake:
It is the second time I am visiting London.
Select the correct option:
time / the / it's / I've / third / called / him
1. It's the first time... | 2. It was the first time... | 3. This is the only time...
A: Do you like this pizza? B: Yes! ___.
You can use the Simple Present after 'It's the first time' if the action is happening right now.
What is the correct sentence?
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesIt's the fifth time she ___ her keys this week!
I think it's the first time I ever feel so tired.
Which sentence is correct?
Translate: 'È la prima volta che ho visto un'aurora boreale.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the phrases:
I can't believe it; this is my ___ time trying to bake this cake!
It was the first time I have visited New York.
Which sentence is correct?
Translate: 'Questa è la seconda volta che ho parlato con il direttore.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the scenarios:
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
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Es la primera vez que [presente]
English uses perfect aspect; Spanish uses present tense.
C'est la première fois que [présent]
French logic is 'it is happening now'; English logic is 'it has happened until now'.
Es ist das erste Mal, dass [Präsens]
German uses simple present.
...no wa hajimete desu
Japanese uses a noun-based construction ('the coming is the first time').
هذه هي المرة الأولى التي [present]
Arabic does not use a perfective aspect here.
这是我第一次 [verb]
Chinese relies on word order and particles rather than verb aspect.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Related Videos
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