Sanya
This was ... that vs. it was ... that #1 This was the first time that I met him. #2 It was the first time that I met him. I suppose #2 carries the same meaning as #1, besides, it emphasizes 'the first time'. What's your opinion? Thank you.#3 I met him for the first time. If I want to stress 'the first time' in #3, is #2 the right choice?
Apr 25, 2014 5:16 AM
Answers · 8
Hmmm yes, they are somewhat identical, almost exactly, you can use whichever and it will work, both will be understood by the listener. However, the emphasis I think is greater in the first one though (that or this) rather than the second (it). This is why I think #1 has a greater emphasis than #2: (again, imagine you're holding a picture from the point of meeting) "That was the first time that I met him/This was the first time that I met him" seem to have more emphasis since you are specifying that THAT or THIS was the first time you met the person, as if you're directly pointing to the event, memory, or the picture you are holding. It's emphasizing that THIS/THAT was the specific point in time, the very moment the event happened just as the camera took the picture at the very same second. "It was the first time that I met him" is more of a general statement, with less emphasis. Just like if you did have the picture in your hand but you're not even really paying attention to it. Someone asks you what's on the photo and you just shrug "oh, it was just the first time we met...eh" so not as much emphasis as the first. (Sorry I had to put it here, the comments box compressed my organized paragraphs into one big confusing paragraph)
April 25, 2014
#2 is correct. #1 is somewhat wrong, not completely though. THIS (which is referring to now, something closer to you in time, like it's just in front of you) and WAS (which is referring to the past, all the way behind in time) are clashing. --->THIS IS the first time that I met him. (Present) --->THAT WAS the first time that I met him. (Past) --->THIS WAS the first time that I met him (Present and Past. Like, if you are holding a picture and showing it to someone, "This..." you will say, recalling the time of the meeting as if it is in the present. "Was" you will continue, because you know for a fact that the meeting already happened, therefore, was in the past.
April 25, 2014
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