Hello Everyone!

Today, let’s discuss ‘at first and ‘first’. Which one is correct for the sentence below?

“____, you have to fry the onions. Then you add the other vegetables.”

Did you take a guess?

The correct answer is ‘first’. However, I have heard lots of people confuse these two terms and many have used ‘at first’ for this kind of sentence. So, let’s take a look at the difference between these two terms.

‘First’ is used when starting a list of something that has to be done in the order listed. ‘At first’ cannot be used in the same situations where you would use ‘first’. ‘At first’ is used when you want to show how something started and how it has changed since then. “At first, my teacher was really nice. But as finals get closer, he’s a lot more strict.” So when you use ‘at first’, there should always be a change of state (whether you say what has changed or not. Sometimes that is understood.)

So, send me your sentences using 'first' and 'at first'! Good luck! Remember, if you need more help or practice with these terms, feel free to request a lesson. I'm more than happy to help you with them. :)

Have a great day!