[Grammar] "the first day I came here" or "the first day when I came here"?

[on the way]

I understand that "when" can be used to introduce attributive clauses, as in the sentence "On the rare occasion when America has truly vital interests at stake, military action may be justified.”, but I'm not sure if "I still remember the first day I came here" is grammatically correct. Can “when” be optional in certain cases like the one above? Any reply would be appreciated. Thank you all.

 

[Tarheel]

Re: "the first day I came here" or "the first day when I came here"?

Too many words! Please just ask the question then stop.

You don't need "first" in that sentence. You can say:

I still remember the day I came here.

 

[Matthew Wai]

Re: "the first day I came here" or "the first day when I came here"?

I think 'first' can be used in 'I still remember the first time I came here'.

 

[emsr2d2]

Re: "the first day I came here" or "the first day when I came here"?

"I still remember the day I came here" suggests that the speaker has only ever been there once.
"I still remember the first day I came here" makes it clear that the speaker has been there more than once and is specifically referring to the first time.

 

[Tarheel]

Re: "the first day I came here" or "the first day when I came here"?

Context makes all the difference. I still remember the day we came to Charlotte (vaguely). I remember that we traveled through a tunnel (through a mountain). What did I first see upon arriving in Charlotte? I don't remember.

It does make sense to say "I remember the first time I came here" if you have been to that place previously. Perhaps:

"I remember my first visit here. That was in 2003. This is my third time visiting New York." (He is in New York.)

Here is another scenario.

"I remember my first time coming here. I was hoping I would never come back." (He is in prison.)

 

[emsr2d2]

Re: "the first day I came here" or "the first day when I came here"?

I remember my first time coming here.

In BrE, the above construction isn't very natural. We would be more likely to say "I remember the first time I came here".

 

[Tarheel]

Re: "the first day I came here" or "the first day when I came here"?

In BrE, the above construction isn't very natural. We would be more likely to say "I remember the first time I came here".

That's what I meant to say.

 

[emsr2d2]

Re: "the first day I came here" or "the first day when I came here"?

That's what I meant to say.

So are you now saying that "I remember my first time coming here" isn't natural in AmE either?

 

[Tarheel]

Re: "the first day I came here" or "the first day when I came here"?

Well, I was thinking one thing and typed something else. As for your question, I wouldn't consider that unnatural. (Maybe Charlie or GS will have something to say.)

 

[GoesStation]

Re: "the first day I came here" or "the first day when I came here"?

So are you now saying that "I remember my first time coming here" isn't natural in AmE either?

It's not the likeliest sentence, perhaps, but I don't find it unnatural.