It/this is the first time i have...

[subhajit123]

Hi everyone, I am unable to understand the difference between "it is the first time I" and "this is the first time I". When I seacrhed on the Internet I saw both are used. Could anyone please tell me the difference?

1- It is the first time I have met her.

2- This is the first time I have met her.

My question is: Is "it is the first time I + present perfect" interchangeable with "this is the first time I + present perfect"?

 

[Tarheel]

Do you have any context for that?

 

[subhajit123]

Do you have any context for that?

Kate is a very good girl. It/this is the first time I have met her.

 

[Tarheel]

Kate is a very good girl. It/this is the first time I have met her.

I would much prefer "this" there.

 

[subhajit123]

Thanks Taheel, I would too use "this". But in this kind of context do they both fit? If not, how to decide the perfect choice? I seached with ngram and I found lots of results for both. :?:

https://books.google.com/ngrams/gra...he first time;,c0;;this is the first time;,c0

 

[Tarheel]

I think you can use either one. And there is no perfect choice. Let context be your guide. And as someone who has spoken the language for over sixty years, I can help some.