it is the first time

1 2

Share on Facebook

Tuongvan

#540792 Sun, 13 Jul 08 03:43 PM

Hi teachers

Could you please help me understand the following:

My grammar book says the present perfect is used with " It/this is the first time ":

. This is the first time I’ve seen such a car

. It’s the first time he has driven a car.

But I see somebody write "this is the first time I am participating in such a big event. I expect to learn to organise youth activities and implement them to benefit the youth in Cu Lao Gieng."

Is this sentence correct ? If it is correct,can it be used interchangeably with the sentence "this is the first time I have participated in such a big event."?

Thank you in advance

Tuongvan

Joined on Sun, Dec 30 2007

Regular Member (582)

van

Grammar, Present perfect

Marius Hancu

#540811 Sun, 13 Jul 08 05:41 PM

NO, not the same:

I am participating: doing it now

I have participated: doing it from the past to now, perhaps still going on, but mostly done

Marius Hancu

Joined on Wed, Apr 26 2006

Montreal, Canada

Veteran Member (11,673)

Tuongvan

#540978 Mon, 14 Jul 08 12:57 AM

Thank you Marius Hancu,but what is the meaning of the whole sentence" This is the first time I have driven a car "?

Best wishes

Tuongvan

Grammar Geek

#540993 Mon, 14 Jul 08 01:38 AM

I am driving right now. This is the first time. I have not driven before.

Grammar Geek

Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006

Pennsylvania, USA

Veteran Member (15,583)

Barbara, who answers in American English.

Tuongvan

#541191 Mon, 14 Jul 08 12:37 PM

Thank you Grammar Geek, but How about the meaning of the whole sentence" This is the first time I am participating in such a big event"?

Best wishes

Tuongvan

Grammar

Grammar Geek

#541213 Mon, 14 Jul 08 01:23 PM

The event is big. I have participted in events beore, but not one this big.

By using "I am participating" instead if "I have participated" it tells me the event is still in the future.

Grammar Geek

Tuongvan

#541284 Mon, 14 Jul 08 03:02 PM

Sorry to trouble you again Grammar Geek.But the context here shows that he is participating in the event now .not in the future . In order for you to see clearly the context ,please read the whole text below:
Quote

Youth federations require financial support, guidance

(26-02-2005)

Approximately 800 Vietnamese delegates participated in the Fifth National Congress of the Viet Nam Youth Federation. Viet Nam News spoke with some of them about challenges they face at work and in life.

Catholic priest Le Ba Tung, 31, of An Giang Province’s Youth Union.

I come from Cu Lao Gieng in Cho Moi Commune’s Tan My Village, which has about 4,000 parishioners. They are poor and mostly farmers.

This is the first time I am participating in such a big event. I expect to learn to organise youth activities and implement them to benefit the youth in Cu Lao Gieng.

Today is youth, especially those in Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta region, need to work more closely to support each other, and improve their skills for business.

Young Vietnamese are the future and they should be role models for the coming generations. — VNS
Best wishes