the first time - for the first time

[Kotfor]

Are both sentences correct? What is the difference in their meanings?

1) Most animals can swim right away the first time they go into water.
2) Most animals can swim right away for the first time they go into water.

To me, it sounds as 2 means that animals can swim only once, that is, only during their first swimming.

 

[MikeNewYork]

I agree with you that the second sentence is peculiar. In your first sentence, "right away" is not needed.

 

[Kotfor]

I agree with you that the second sentence is peculiar. In your first sentence, "right away" is not needed.

Thank you. Don't you find it a mildly incorrect in terms of grammar, as some natives have said that? I mean sentence 2.

 

[MikeNewYork]

Sentence 2 is grammatical. That means that all of the words are used correctly in the sentence. But it is not natural English.

 

[Kotfor]

I see. How would you rephrase it to make it natural?

 

[Raymott]

That's what 1 does. 2. doesn't have a meaning.

 

[Kotfor]

That's what 1 does. 2. doesn't have a meaning.

I take it as you disagree with MikeNewYork.

 

[MikeNewYork]

No. He agreed with me.

 

[Raymott]

We agree that sentence 2 is not good English, and that 1 is. I’d hesitate to called 2 grammatical though. If Mike thinks 2 has a clear meaning, I’d disagree with that. I think ‘for’ may be a typo of ‘from’ – ‘from their first time’. In fact, that would be as good as 1, perhaps better.

 

[MikeNewYork]

Mike didn't say that. The words fit English grammar.

 

[Matthew Wai]

Is it OK to say 'Most animals can swim when they go into water for the first time'?

Not a teacher.

 

[MikeNewYork]

Yes, Matthew.