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Marc2010 Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Simple Past or Present Perfect > Signal word: The first time

Hello,

When I remember correctly present perfect
must be used when I tell something about
what I did the very first time.

Example sentence below, challenge was to
choose either simple past or present perfect.

(go) The first time I ....... to Australia was in 2009.

I understand that usually the simple past should
be used because it happened a year ago but
I thought that present perfect must be used
because it was the first time.

Correct answer the book gave me is simple past.

> The first time I went to Australia was in 2009.

Why?

Thanks

Marc
  

Top answer

-- Because the 'rule' you have learnt is not a valid one-- or you remember incorrectly. First experience has nothing to do with present perfect. Present perfect has to do with the relationship between past and present.

— Mister Micawber

  • -- Because the 'rule' you have learnt is not a valid one-- or you remember incorrectly.
  • First experience has nothing to do with present perfect.
  • Present perfect has to do with the relationship between past and present.
  • And present perfect does not tolerate the mention of a specific finished past time (like 'in 2009' and 'the first time').
  • All it will accept, in this situation, is this: I have been to Australi a.
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7 Answers
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Why?-- Because the 'rule' you have learnt is not a valid one-- or you remember incorrectly. First experience has nothing to do with present perfect. Present perfect has to do with the relationship between past and present. And present perfect does not tolerate the mention of a specific finished past time (like 'in 2009' and 'the first time'). All it will accept, in this situation, is this:
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Then I remember the rule incorrectly.

Thanks for your answer.

Cheers,
Marc
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Marc2010when I tell something about
what I did the very first time.
You use the present perfect only in certain patterns with first.

This is the first time I have (ever) ...

This is the first time I have ever been in Australia.
This is the first time he has ever done skydiving.
This is the first time they have
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Back online...

Thank you CJ for your examples.

I think I got it now.

Have a nice day.

Regards,
Marc
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It has nothing to do with the first time.e don't use the present perfect if we have a point in time in the past or a specific time.For example,don't say

1- I have broken my leg in 2000 * , but I broke my leg in 2000.

2- My sister has had her degree last year* ,but my sister had her degree last year.
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my sister had her degree last year.

"My sister gained her degree last year."

more commonly:

"My sister graduated last year."
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