the first time用作形容词一般修饰单数名词,修饰有few或数词修饰的复数名词时是把复数名词看作一个整体。first与基数词连用时,一般置于基数词前,但first引起的固定词组则应置于基数词之后。
for the first time引导的是并列从句,表示原因的语气很弱,一般是对结果作出推断性的补充说明或解释,不表示直接原因,for前多加逗号。
the first time用于一般过去时。for the first time用于一般过去时或现在完成时。
It was the first time we admitted to ourselves that we were tired.
这是我们第一次承认自己累了。
For the first time in my career,I was failing.
我职业生涯中第一次经历失败。