你有没有遇到过这种情况:想说“这是我第一次去日本”,结果说成了 This is the first time for me to go to Japan. 语法虽然能让人懂,但听起来总有点别扭。实际上,英语里表达“第一次/第二次……”最自然的结构是 this is the first/second/… time that … 加从句。今天我们就把这个结构拆开来聊聊,看看它什么时候要用 that,什么时候可以省略,常见错误有哪些,看完你就会发现,其实“第一次”并不难,只要记住几个小技巧,立刻变得“地道”。
最核心的表达是:
This is the first/second/last … time that + 完整从句。
其中:
first / second / third … 表示顺序,可换成 last / next / another 等。
that 引导的从句必须是 完成时(现在完成或过去完成),因为“第一次”强调的是“到现在为止”。
如果从句非常简短,口语里 that 常被省略,例如 This is the first time I’ve been here.
对应的中文结构大多是 “这是…第一次 …”。
1. 明确时间跨度:
This is the first time that I have tried sushi. 表示“到目前为止,我从未尝试过寿司”。如果没用 that,听者可能会误以为是“一次性动作”。
2. 避免歧义:
This is the first time for me to climb the Great Wall. 虽然可以被理解,但 for + 动词不定式 更像是“为了…这是第一次”,语义偏离原意。
3. 搭配完成时态:
完成时强调“过去的经历累计到现在”。常见的时态有:
现在完成:have/has + past participle(常用于现在的 “first time”。)
过去完成:had + past participle(用于过去的 “first time”。)
| 错误句 | 原因 | 正确句 |
|---|---|---|
| This is the first time for them to climb the Great Wall. | 使用 for + 动词不定式,意思偏向“为了登长城这是第一次”。 | This is the first time that they have climbed the Great Wall. |
| It was the second time I went to Beijing. | 缺少完成时,暗示过去的具体一次,而不是“第二次”。 | It was the second time that I had been to Beijing. |
| This is the first time that I am speaking English loudly. | 使用 现在进行时 不符合“第一次”强调的经验累计。 | This is the first time that I have spoken English loudly. |
This is the first time that I have spoken English loudly.
这是我第一次大声说英语。
This is the first time that the shy girl has made a speech in public.
这个腼腆的女孩还是第一次当众讲话。
This is the last time that I am going to warn you of it.
这是我最后一次警告你。
This is the second time I've been in China.(口语中 that 可省)
这是我第二次来中国。
You are the first to come to the lecture today.
今天你是第一个来听课的。
She was the last one to be told about her husband’s death.
她丈夫的死讯,她是最后一个知道的。
This is the third time that we have failed the math test.
这是我们第三次数学考试不及格。
It was the first time that I had ever tasted durian.
那是我第一次尝到榴莲。
That was the only time that I felt so scared.
那是我唯一一次感到如此害怕。
Next time will be the first time that I try skydiving.
下次将是我第一次尝试跳伞。
1. for + 动名词/不定式 常用来表达“为了…是第一次”。
This is the first time for me to learn piano.(强调“为了学习钢琴我才第一次”。)
在大多数教学场合,这种结构被认作不够自然,建议改为 that + 完成时。
2. for + 名词 用于表示“第一次(对某人)”。
This is the first time for him.(在上下文已明确动作的情况下可以接受。)
3. 用 “the first/second/… time” 作主语时,后面常接 that 从句;若后面接的是 to do 不定式,则通常用在 “It is … to …” 结构里。
记住完成时:第一次(first time) → have/has + 过去分词;第二次(second time) → 同上;过去的“第一次” → had + 过去分词。
省略 that:在口语或短句中可以省略,尤其当从句很简短时。This is the first time I’ve been here.
避免双重否定:如 This isn’t the first time that I haven’t tried it. 听起来非常拗口,最好改写成 This isn’t the first time I’ve tried it.
搭配副词:finally, finally, finally … 常用于 “the first/last time” 前面加强语气。This is finally the first time that …
请把下面的中文句子翻译成英文,注意使用 first/second … time that … 结构,并选用合适的完成时。
“这是我第一次在公众面前演讲。”
改写句子,使之更地道:
This is the first time for us to visit the museum.
填写空格:
_____ the third time _____ (you/ see) that movie? (提示:表示过去的第三次)
用 that 引导的从句写出两句 “第二次” 的例子,中文解释每句的含义。
判断正误并说明原因:
It was the first time I have ever been to Shanghai.