Hey everyone, it is almost summer vacation time so let's look at a few useful phrases:
Is it your first trip to (country name)?
We use this phrase most often BEFORE we go on a trip.
A: Is it your first trip to Australia?
B: Yes, it is but I've wanted to go for a long time!
A: Well, have fun. I wish I could go with you...
REMEMBER ~to + specific place! So you can't say
Are you going to home? X INCORRECT
Are you going to abroad? X INCORRECT
Instead say:
Are you going home? O CORRECT
Are you going abroad? O CORRECT
I think people get mixed up because you can also say:
Are you going to go home? O CORRECT
Are you going to go abroad? O CORRECT
BUT here going to = gonna with the verb go and home/abroad DON'T follow to!
Is it/this your first time in (country name)?
We use this when you are IN the country. We often use it when talking to tourists or people from out of town. So it is most often used DURING YOUR VISIT.
Local: Is this your first time in London?
Tourist: Yeah, it is. So far I'm having a great time!
Local: Be sure not to miss the British Museum and the Tate Modern.
Tourist: Thanks for the tip!
--------------------
Friend: Is it your first time in Japan?
Out-of-towner: Yeah, it is. People are so helpful here.
Friend: I'm glad you're enjoying yourself. Thanks for visiting, I was a bit homesick.
Out-of-towner: No problem! Here's some food from home.
Friend: Wow, thanks! I really missed Mac n' cheese!
Any questions? Enjoy this rainy Monday!
Phil
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2 comments:
Hello Phil, I'm an English teacher too and your blogs are really helpful for me since I'm not a native speaker. I just have a question for "is it your first trip to..". What if you're asking someone who had been abroad but you were not with him. "Was it your first trip to or in?"
... and also, how about for "Have you been to + country?" or have you been in + country?" ... prepositions are quite tricky ... >_<
Hi Princess, thanks for commenting. If you're not with the person and it is after their trip:
"Was it your first trip to...?"
is best. If you're talking on the phone and they are abroad you can use "Is it...?".
Trip will usually be used with TO and time will usually be used with IN.
When talking about EXPERIENCES you'll say: "I have been TO + COUNTRY".
Though during the trip you might ask: "Have you been in Japan long?" "No just a few days".
BUT that is not talking about experiences it is talking DURATION. After the trip you'd ask:
"How long were you in Japan?"
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