Example sentences of "[was/were] the first time in " in BNC.
Next page| No | Sentence |
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| 1 | The balance of trade in manufacturing swung from a surplus of £2.75 billion in 1979 to a deficit in 1984 of £3.75 billion and the years 1983 and 1984 were the first time in history that Britain 's trade balance was in the red on manufactures . |
| 2 | The trial of Mr Subono and Mr Nugroho was the first time in many years that the law was used to try ‘ leftists ’ rather than Muslim activists . |
| 3 | Mr Jack Straw , Labour 's shadow education secretary , said last night that it was the first time in his 10 years in Parliament that responsibility for piloting such an important piece of legislation through committee had been left to such junior departmental politicians . |
| 4 | When he finally did stop working , it was the first time in a year and a half that everyone involved stopped and got a chance to take a break , and once everyone took a break , things began to change . |
| 5 | It was the first time in her life she had ever hit anyone . |
| 6 | It was the first time in the campaign that there had been any rapport between the embattled figures on the platform and the assembled press and television correspondents . |
| 7 | It was the first time in American history that serving officers did not dare say what their commander-in-chief had told them to do . |
| 8 | It was the first time in years that I had blown my top in such a way , and I vowed that it would never happen again , that I would save all my aggression for the track . |
| 9 | It was the first time in his life that he had slept out of doors ; as a boy , he and Jean-Paul had often pleaded to do this , and it had always been forbidden . |
| 10 | It was the first time in his 75 years that he had ever been a hospital patient . |
| 11 | A rifleman hit two men crouching near the Colonel , who later wrote that ‘ this was the first time in warfare that I truly felt fear . |
| 12 | It was the first time in her life that she had been openly insulted . |
| 13 | It was the first time in my life I wanted to carry myself as a woman , not like a weird , kinda little ragamuffin girl . ’ |
| 14 | It was the first time in her life she 'd heard Frank say something bold to his father . |
| 15 | It was the first time in fourteen years that he was travelling alone , his best friend having died of pneumonia only weeks before . |
| 16 | It was the first time in my life I ever thought of Diana as beautiful . |
| 17 | It was the first time in my life I had acted like a complete sod to other people , and I felt that my behaviour was worse because I had loads of advantages the lesser recruits did n't : I could speak French ; I was basically healthier and therefore found fitness much easier ; I was a north European Caucasian which endeared me to some of the more racist instructors . |
| 18 | This was the first time in my life that I had lived in deep country , without easy access to shops , transport and people I knew . |
| 19 | It was the first time in two decades that a British bike was beating the Japanese and for British biking enthusiasts it was stirring stuff . |
| 20 | This was the first time in history that a trade union banner had been borne aloft in a great military and naval display . |
| 21 | Chesarynth felt conspicuous ; people around were staring at them , but it was the first time in her weary day 's travel that she had seen a box and it called to the echoes of firesong that the one on the Moon had left in her mind . |
| 22 | It was the first time in their lives that Dorothy , although younger by ten years , had ever felt the stronger of the two . |
| 23 | As I was permanently hungry , he used to make enormous treacle puddings — it was the first time in my life I had heard of such a dish — and always made sure I got a big helping . |
| 24 | This was the first time in her life that she 'd been in the company of a man who could bring her out in nervous flushes , make her heartbeat race and her stomach turn all watery , just by watching her … |
| 25 | It was the first time in my life I had experienced anything like this and was nervous but deeply honoured . |
| 26 | It was the first time in his life he had seen anyone praying in their house . |
| 27 | This was the first time in the 47 years of its history that the UN had met at the top level . |
| 28 | It was the first time in Israel 's 41-year history that a government had been brought down on a vote of confidence . |
| 29 | The fact that it was the first time in the 20th century that either of the major parties had selected an all-southern election ticket reflected the widespread belief that only by recapturing support lost to the Republicans in the south could the Democrats hope to win the presidency . |
| 30 | It was the first time in its 35 year history , that the Coast Guard 's Automated Mutual-assistance Vessel Rescue ( AMVER ) safety network has bestowed such an honour on a cruise ship . |