5.119 particular occurrences of an event

The adverbs 'first', 'next', and 'last' are used to indicate the stage at which an event takes place.

The adverb 'first', the noun group 'the first time', and the prepositional phrase 'for the first time' can indicate the first occurrence of an event.

The repetition of an event or situation that has not happened for a long time can be indicated by using 'for the first time' with 'in' and the plural form of a general time word.

A future occurrence is indicated by 'next time' or 'the next time'.

The use of 'next' with statements referring to the future is described in paragraph 5.62.

The most recent occurrence of an event can be indicated by using 'last' as an adverb or the noun groups 'last time' or 'the last time'.

The final occurrence can be indicated by 'for the last time'.

The use of 'last' in statements about the past is described in paragraph 5.41.

You can also use 'before', 'again', and noun groups with an ordinal and 'time' to say whether an event is a first occurrence, or one that has happened before.

You can use 'before' with a perfect tense to indicate whether something is happening for the first time or is a repeated occurrence.

The adverb 'again' can be used to indicate a second or subsequent occurrence of an event. Ordinals can be used with 'time', in noun groups or in more formal prepositional phrases with 'for', to specify a particular occurrence of a repeated event.