This is the first time ...
Marius Hancu
Could you state your preferences re:
1) This is the first time I'm doing [something] ...
2) This is the first time I've done [something] ...
also indicating in what kind of contexts you'd be using each, if at all.
Thanks.
Marius Hancu
The UnInmate
"Marius Hancu" <NOS...@videotron.ca> wrote in message
news:MySek.1781$hz1.1...@weber.videotron.net...
> Hello:
>
> Could you state your preferences re:
>
> 1) This is the first time I'm doing [something] ...
Said while someone is in the process of doing something.
> 2) This is the first time I've done [something] ...
Can be said while someone is doing something, but can also refer to what
he's finished doing, or even is about to start doing.
Maria C.
> Hello:
>
> Could you state your preferences re:
>
> 1) This is the first time I'm doing [something] ...
Instead of what you've written above, I'd change the sentence to "This
will be my first time..." (riding a horse, for example).
> 2) This is the first time I've done [something] ...
This is the form I'd generally use. That is: "This is the first time
I've ridden a horse" or "this is the first time I've done a survey."
> also indicating in what kind of contexts you'd be using each, if at
> all.
As indicated, "2)" is the one I'd use just about any time. "1)" sounds
contrived to me, as if I were were trying very hard to speak (or write)
in a way I normally don't. I've seen and heard the style used, and find
it annoying. It seems to lose any freshness very quickly.
--
Maria C.
Jim Karatassos
Re: (your initial message)
You forgot:
3) This is the first time I'll be doing [something] ...
Thanks.
Roland Hutchinson
> Hello:
>
> Could you state your preferences re:
>
> 1) This is the first time I'm doing [something] ...
Not a common usage. It might apply if I was in the process of doing
something several time in a row. "This (right now) is the first time I'm
loading the dishwasher. It will take two or three more times to clean up
all the dirty dishes from last night's dinner party".
> 2) This is the first time I've done [something] ...
Would refer to something that I am doing right now. "This is the first time
(that) I've been ballroom dancing. You'll have to show me the steps."
or "This is the first time that I've loaded the dishwasher today. I meant
to get to it after lunch, but the phone rang and it had to wait."
> also indicating in what kind of contexts you'd be using each, if at all.
That's all that comes to mind; I may be overlooking some posibilities.
--
Roland Hutchinson Will play viola da gamba for food.
NB mail to my.spamtrap [at] verizon.net is heavily filtered to
remove spam. If your message looks like spam I may not see it.
Nick
> Hello:
>
> Could you state your preferences re:
>
> 1) This is the first time I'm doing [something] ...
I can't imagine saying this (which probably means I do it daily!).
> 2) This is the first time I've done [something] ...
Perfectly natural where "[something]" == "this". Much odder where it is
an actual activity.
Alan Jones
"Marius Hancu" <NOS...@videotron.ca> wrote in message
news:MySek.1781$hz1.1...@weber.videotron.net...
I had to think about this, and I'm still not absolutely sure about it. Still
(BrE):
1. Beforehand: "This will be the first time I've driven a Porsche". Or "This
is the first time I'll have driven a Porsche".
2. In the process: "This is the first time I've driven a Porsche" (Any
version with -ing sounds wrong to me, though I can't say why.)
3. Immediately afterwards: "That was the first time I've driven a Porsche".
4. Later: "That was the first time I'd driven a Porsche". ("That was the
first time I drove a Porsche" would be suitable if I were
giving an account of my extensive experience of driving fast cars.)
You could certainly say "I'm doing this for the first time" and that would
be suitable whether you were about to start or were actually in the process.
Alan Jones
mm
<thebib...@yahoo.ca> wrote:
>
>"Marius Hancu" <NOS...@videotron.ca> wrote in message
>news:MySek.1781$hz1.1...@weber.videotron.net...
>> Hello:
>>
>> Could you state your preferences re:
>>
>> 1) This is the first time I'm doing [something] ...
>
>Said while someone is in the process of doing something.
Maybe in Canada, but in the US, no native speaker says this. I have
heard a lot of foreigners say similar things though. (not Canadians,
though)
Are you just looking at in and analysing it, or have you really heard
people say it?
>
>> 2) This is the first time I've done [something] ...
>
>Can be said while someone is doing something, but can also refer to what
>he's finished doing, or even is about to start doing.
>
>>
>> also indicating in what kind of contexts you'd be using each, if at all.
>>
>> Thanks.
>> Marius Hancu
>
If you are inclined to email me
for some reason, remove NOPSAM :-)
The UnInmate
"mm" <NOPSAM...@bigfoot.com> wrote in message
news:14ko74hphl725fd47...@4ax.com...
> On Mon, 14 Jul 2008 21:02:03 -0400, "The UnInmate"
> <thebib...@yahoo.ca> wrote:
>
>>
>>"Marius Hancu" <NOS...@videotron.ca> wrote in message
>>news:MySek.1781$hz1.1...@weber.videotron.net...
>>> Hello:
>>>
>>> Could you state your preferences re:
>>>
>>> 1) This is the first time I'm doing [something] ...
>>
>>Said while someone is in the process of doing something.
>
> Maybe in Canada, but in the US, no native speaker says this. I have
> heard a lot of foreigners say similar things though. (not Canadians,
> though)
>
> Are you just looking at in and analysing it, or have you really heard
> people say it?
I've heard it often enough. It doesn't strike me as strange at all, because
the reference is more weighted to what they're currently doing than to their
history of not having done it before.
Mike Lyle
That's right. "1) This is the first time I'm doing ..." isn't real
English; and the later suggestion by Jim K, "3) This is the first time
I'll be doing [something]" is utterly grotesque.
Of course, any odd structure could slip out of almost any native
speaker's mouth at odd moments; but such accidents wouldn't be enough to
standardise a form of words.
--
Mike.
CDB
> Could you state your preferences re:
> 1) This is the first time I'm doing [something] ...
> 2) This is the first time I've done [something] ...
> also indicating in what kind of contexts you'd be using each, if at
> all.
I trust your questions have been answered. I would like to add that
your first example, while as non-standard in English as others have
said, is often heard from people who are thinking in French: "C'est
la première fois que je fais [qqch]."
If, as I think I recall, you are posting from the Montreal area, you
probably hear it a lot, along with "It's the first time...".
Marius Hancu
> > 1) This is the first time I'm doing [something] ...
> > 2) This is the first time I've done [something] ...
> > also indicating in what kind of contexts you'd be using each, if at
> > all.
>
> I would like to add that
> your first example, while as non-standard in English as others have
> said, is often heard from people who are thinking in French: "C'est
> la première fois que je fais [qqch]."
>
> If, as I think I recall, you are posting from the Montreal area, you
> probably hear it a lot, along with "It's the first time...".
Well, I don't think it's my location. The following is from two
respected English teachers, both US-based:
http://thegrammarexchange.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/340600179/m/3181077374
I think the natives are still at odds on this.
Marius Hancu
HVS
It sounds unnatural, unidiomatic, and non-native to my ear.
--
Cheers, Harvey
CanEng and BrEng, indiscriminately mixed
Amethyst Deceiver
address.org.uk says...
> Marius Hancu wrote:
> > Hello:
> >
> > Could you state your preferences re:
> >
> > 1) This is the first time I'm doing [something] ...
>
> I can't imagine saying this (which probably means I do it daily!).
Agreed. "This is the last time I'm doing..." would be okay, but not "the
first time".
> > 2) This is the first time I've done [something] ...
>
> Perfectly natural where "[something]" == "this". Much odder where it is
> an actual activity.
>
--
Linz
Wet Yorks via Cambridge, York, London and Watford
My accent may vary
CDB
>> http://thegrammarexchange.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/340600179
>> /m/3181077374
To mine too. I couldn't find any further information about Rachel and
Richard at the website (thanks, anyway), but I don't have a lot of
respect for their answers to Jerry's question (the example used was
"This is the first time I am participating/have participated in such
[an event]" ):
'[Richard:] I guess that if the event is still taking place, it would
be more appropriate to say no. 1, Jerry.
No. 2 gives the impression that the event has just concluded.'
{No, that impression would be given by "That was the first time I
participated..."}
'[Rachel:] I agree with Richard.
Perhaps with "I'm participating" you are actually in the middle of
participating, and with "I've participated," you may be there at the
event but not actively participating yet.'
{Say what?}
They seem to have a pretty limited understanding of how English verbs
work.
D. Glenn Arthur Jr.
Alan Jones <a...@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:
>
>"Marius Hancu" <NOS...@videotron.ca> wrote in message
>news:MySek.1781$hz1.1...@weber.videotron.net...
>> Hello:
>>
>> Could you state your preferences re:
>>
>> 1) This is the first time I'm doing [something] ...
>> 2) This is the first time I've done [something] ...
>>
>(BrE):
>
>1. Beforehand: "This will be the first time I've driven a Porsche". Or "This
>is the first time I'll have driven a Porsche".
(AmE) Or also, "This is my first time driving a Porsche."
Though the first version ("This is the first time I'm ...") didn't
sound at all odd to me until other posters pointed out that it's
not the phrasing most often used. Thinking of whan I _have_ heard
that, most of the examples that come to mind involve planning a
journey (so implied future despite present phrasing): "This is
the first time I'm going to Cyprus." It seems to connote a state
of mind where being active in planning makes the present feel like
part of the activity even though the actual travel hasn't started
yet, where "This will be the first time I'm going to Cyprus" would
indicate that the speaker is not caught up in the mental activity
of planning right at that moment and is just looking forward to
the trip.
Or, not unlikely, I'm waaaay overanalyzing.
In all the other cases I've thought of so far where it wouldn't
sound odd ("This is the first time I'm running for public office")
the other phrasing seems more common ("This is my first time running
for public office").
--
D. Glenn Arthur Jr./The Human Vibrator, dgl...@panix.com
Due to hand/wrist problems my newsreading time varies so I may miss followups.
"Being a _man_ means knowing that one has a choice not to act like a 'man'."
http://www.panix.com/~dglenn/ http://dglenn.livejournal.com
Marius Hancu
>http://thegrammarexchange.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/340600179/m/3181077374
>
> I couldn't find any further information about Rachel and
> Richard at the website (thanks, anyway)
Pls try:
Rachel Spack Koch and Richard Firsten profiles at:
http://azargrammar.com/aboutUs.html#richardFirsten
Marius Hancu
D. Glenn Arthur Jr.
Mike Lyle <mike_l...@REMOVETHISyahoo.co.uk> wrote:
>Alan Jones wrote:
>> "Marius Hancu" <NOS...@videotron.ca> wrote in message
>> news:MySek.1781$hz1.1...@weber.videotron.net...
>> would be suitable whether you were about to start or were actually in
>> the process.
>
>That's right. "1) This is the first time I'm doing ..." isn't real
>English; and the later suggestion by Jim K, "3) This is the first time
>I'll be doing [something]" is utterly grotesque.
Nervous, just before a sales presentation: "This is the first
time I'll be doing the pitch alone -- usually Jim and I do this
together."
Waiting for massage class to start: "This is the first time I'll
be doing that Shiatsu technique that was demonstrated last week."
Waiting for one's turn in a tourney: "This is the first time I'll
be doing sword-and-board[1]; until now I've only been fencing."
On stage: "I recorded this tune four months ago, but this is the
first time I'll be playing it in front of a live audience."
About to cimb into the cockpit of an aeroplane: "This is the
first time I'll be flying solo."
Grotesque?
(Yes, I can see other phrasings, some more likely, some not.)
[1] armoured fighting using broadsword and shield.
>Of course, any odd structure could slip out of almost any native
>speaker's mouth at odd moments; but such accidents wouldn't be enough to
>standardise a form of words.
True 'dat.
Marius Hancu
> >> 1) This is the first time I'm doing [something] ...
> >> 2) This is the first time I've done [something] ...
> Thinking of whan I _have_ heard
> that, most of the examples that come to mind involve planning a
> journey (so implied future despite present phrasing):
>"This is the first time I'm going to Cyprus."
Others, in other forums, point to the same future usage.
Marius Hancu
Mike Lyle
> In article <g5i52e$er3$1...@registered.motzarella.org>,
> Mike Lyle <mike_l...@REMOVETHISyahoo.co.uk> wrote:
>> Alan Jones wrote:
>>> "Marius Hancu" <NOS...@videotron.ca> wrote in message
>>> news:MySek.1781$hz1.1...@weber.videotron.net...
>>> You could certainly say "I'm doing this for the first time" and that
>>> would be suitable whether you were about to start or were actually
>>> in the process.
>>
>> That's right. "1) This is the first time I'm doing ..." isn't real
>> English; and the later suggestion by Jim K, "3) This is the first
>> time I'll be doing [something]" is utterly grotesque.
>
> Nervous, just before a sales presentation: "This is the first
> time I'll be doing the pitch alone -- usually Jim and I do this
> together."
>
> Waiting for massage class to start: "This is the first time I'll
> be doing that Shiatsu technique that was demonstrated last week."
>
> Waiting for one's turn in a tourney: "This is the first time I'll
> be doing sword-and-board[1]; until now I've only been fencing."
>
> On stage: "I recorded this tune four months ago, but this is the
> first time I'll be playing it in front of a live audience."
>
> About to cimb into the cockpit of an aeroplane: "This is the
> first time I'll be flying solo."
>
>
> Grotesque?
Yep. We'd say "This will be the first time I have [past participle] ..."
unless our grammar had been disrupted by nerves. But I can't really
speak for those impoverished souls whose dialect has lost the perfect
tenses: I still don't understand how they manage, but I'm sure they must
have their methods.
[...]
--
Mike.
CDB
> On Jul 15, 11:05 am, "CDB" <bellema...@sympatico.ca> wrote:
>> http://thegrammarexchange.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/340600179/m/3181077374
>> I couldn't find any further information about Rachel and
>> Richard at the website (thanks, anyway)
> Rachel Spack Koch and Richard Firsten profiles at:
> http://azargrammar.com/aboutUs.html#richardFirsten
Ha. They're not even professors.
Alan Jones
"Mike Lyle" <mike_l...@REMOVETHISyahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
news:g5ir5a$t9k$1...@registered.motzarella.org...
I concur with Mike, though I won't join him in mocking our American friends.
Alan Jones
Mike Lyle
> "Mike Lyle" <mike_l...@REMOVETHISyahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:g5ir5a$t9k$1...@registered.motzarella.org...
>> D. Glenn Arthur Jr. wrote:
>>>
>>> About to cimb into the cockpit of an aeroplane: "This is the
>>> first time I'll be flying solo."
>>>
>>>
>>> Grotesque?
>>
>> Yep. We'd say "This will be the first time I have [past participle]
>> ..." unless our grammar had been disrupted by nerves. But I can't
>> really speak for those impoverished souls whose dialect has lost the
>> perfect tenses: I still don't understand how they manage, but I'm
>> sure they must have their methods.
>> [...]
>
> I concur with Mike, though I won't join him in mocking our American
> friends.
That wasn't really intended as mockery--not in its strongest form,
anyhow. I once asked here if anybody knew how the
non-perfect-tense-users met the need to express such ideas, and got no
answer. Perhaps present perfect and future perfect are dispensable, but
I can't easily believe there's a whole chunk of the Anglophone
community which has simply no neat and unambiguous way to express the
pluperfect relation.
--
Mike.
Robin Bignall
Goodness gracious me. This is the first time I am doing this reading
since I am leaving Kolkata.
Not exactly BrE, innit.
--
Robin
(BrE)
Herts, England
Mike Lyle
Are you telling that they would be kicking my bottom out of door from
Bridge of Knights?
--
Mike.
D. Glenn Arthur Jr.
I had considered a pithy response here but instead have decided
that I must content myself with a question instead: what has
given you the impression that we _lack_ perfect tenses, rather
than that we merely don't use them in every situation where you
would have used them?
All of the examples I gave contained an element of immediacy;
one wouldn't say them that way if the event were a little bit
farther in the future (and some could just as easily come out
in a way more acceptable to you -- "This will by my first time
flying solo," or "This is [about to be] the first time I'm
flying solo," or the shorter, "This'll be my first solo" --
so speakers of my dialect have a few options here).
Sorry to take so long to respond; I've been trying to understand
your point and suspect I missed something subtle.