Chicken Sandwich
Senior Member
- Joined
- Jun 20, 2010
- Member Type
- Interested in Language
- Native Language
- Russian
- Home Country
- Russian Federation
- Current Location
- Netherlands
Jack is driving a car, but he's very nervous and not sure what to do.
You ask: Have you driven a car before?
He says: No, this is the first time I've driven a car.
Soruce: English Grammar in Use, p.17.
Let's say that the driving lesson has come to an end. Jack steps out of the car. What should he tell his driving instructor:
This is the first time I've driven a car.
or
This was the first time I've driven a car.
or do both work? The book suggests that we use the first for actions that are still in progress, but I cannot figure out if it works for completed actions. Usually we can use the present perfect for completed actions, as this example from English Grammar in Use suggests: Her bedroom was green. Now it is yellow. She has painted her bedroom. But I'm not sure if it works in conjunction with "the first time".
Thank you in advance.