the first time和for the first time的区别：意思不同、用法不同、侧重点不同
一、意思不同
1.the first time意思：第一次;初次;第一次……的时候
2.for the first time意思：第一次
二、用法不同
1.the first time用法：用作形容词一般修饰单数名词,修饰有few或数词修饰的复数名词时是把复数名词看作一个整体。first与基数词连用时,一般置于基数词前,但first引起的固定词组则应置于基数词之后。
例句：
It was the first time we admitted to ourselves that we were tired.
这是我们第一次承认自己累了。
2.for the first time用法：引导的是并列从句,表示原因的语气很弱,一般是对结果作出推断性的补充说明或解释,不表示直接原因, for前多加逗号。
例句：
For the first time in my career, I was failing.
我职业生涯中第一次经历失败。
三、侧重点不同
1.the first time侧重点：用于一般过去时。
2.for the first time侧重点：用于一般过去时或现在完成时。
1、the first time之后接一个定语从句，用that，when引导均可，或者干脆省略。
I retired the first time when he was the coach.
I retired the first time that he was the coach.
I retired the first time he was the coach.
【翻译】我在他初次当教练时退的休。
2、for the first time是个介词词组，意为“第一次，首次，初次”，一般用作状语，修饰动词。
She met him at the cinema for the first time. 她第一次碰到他是在电影院里。
I took an airplane for the first time in my life. 我有生以来第一次搭飞机。
3、以下句子反映出两个词组的差别，两句话的意思相同。
Mary was a shy girl the first time (that/when) I met her. （the first time用作连词）
Mary was a shy girl when I met her for the first time.（for the first time用作状语，修饰met）
扩展资料：
（1）For the first time since his arrival he relaxed slightly
自从他来了之后这是他第一次稍微放松一点儿。
（2）Now I use a false name if I'm meeting people for the first time
现在和初次见面的人交往时我会用假名。
（3）Naturally, you were keyed up when you went on the platform for the first time.
你第一次登上讲台感到紧张是很自然的。
（4）It's the first time we've been to the cinema together as a family.
这是我们全家第一次一起去看电影。
（5）That's the first time I lost my cool in 20 years in this job. This wholething's getting to me.
干这份工作20年来，我头一次失去了冷静，这一切让我大伤脑筋。
（6）For the first time in many years, I got carded.
这么多年来，头一回有人要我出示身份证。
不同点：
the first time可以引导时间状语从句。例如
The first time I met her,I fell in love with her.
for the first time 不能引导状语从句，只能在句子中做状语。例如
I fell in love with her when I met her for the first time.本回答被网友采纳