第 5 页精品文档---下载后可任意编辑first 与 at first 的用法区分一、从词性上看区分first 可用作形容词或副词,有时还可用作代词;而 at first 作为介词短语,只起副词用作用〔在句中用作状语〕。如:First class is the most expensive way to travel. 坐头等舱是最贵的旅行方式。(first 为形容词,在句中用作定语)This is the first time I have heard of such things. 这是我第一次听到这样的事。(first 为形容词,在句中用作定语)You neednt read the whole book hut you must read the first four chapters.你们不必把整本书全读完,但必需读完前四章。(first 为形容词,在句中用作定语)I asked them to ring first in case we were out. 我请他们先打电话来,以防我们不在家。(first 为副词,在句中用作状语)Shes always the first to arrive and the last to leave. 她总是第一个来,最终一个离开。(first 为代词,可视为其后省略了one, person 等之类的词)His second suggestion was not much better than his first. 他的其次个建议比第一个好不了多少。(first 为代词,可视为其后省略了 suggestion)At first we used hand tools. Later we had machines. 开头我们用手工工具,后来我们有了机器。(at first 在此用作状语)二、从用法上看区分第 6 页精品文档---下载后可任意编辑1. first 的用法first 用来说明挨次,意为"先',示意接下去还有其他动作或大事要发生,因此其后往往接有(或示意有) then, next, last 等词。如:Think first, then act. 先想清楚再行动。Ill have to finish my homework first. 我得先把作业做完。First (you) boil some water. Then (you) warm the teapot. Then (you) add three teaspoons of tea. Next, (you) pour on boiling water... 你先烧些开水,然后把茶壶烫热,接着放三勺茶叶,随后冲入开水John came home from work. First he read the paper for a while, then he got up from the chair and turned on the radio. 约翰下班回家,先看一会儿报,然后从椅子上站起来,打开收音机。2. at first 的用法at first 的意思是"起初'"开头',它主要用于强调前后对比,示意接 下 去 的 动 作 与 前 面 的 动 作...