Transituins First vs. At First
Here is a confusing and incorrect sentence:At first, I want to eat breakfast before I go to work.
English language learners sometimes confuse “at first” and “first.” They are both transitions that often begin a sentence. However, the similarity ends there! The little preposition “at” makes a big difference.
“At first” suggests a change is coming.
For example, “At first, I did not like green tea ice cream, but now I love it.”
“First” shows a sequence and suggests that there will be a “second,” “third,” and so on.
For example, “First, I always wash my hands before I cook dinner.”
Practice
1. Think of a situation where your opinion has changed about something - perhaps a food, a person, or a place. Describe how you felt at first and how your opinion changed.
2. Describe how to do something that you enjoy doing - for example, how to cook your favorite meal, how to train for a sport that you do, or how to learn a language, or something else. Describe steps in order, using first, second, third, etc
