first
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++first1 /fɜːst $ fɜːrst/ ●●● S1 W1 adjective 1 in a series 系列中FIRST coming before all the other things or people in a series 第一（位）的 Ella was his first girlfriend. 埃拉是他的首任女友。the first thing/time/day etc The first time I flew on a plane I was really nervous. 我第一次乘飞机时确实很紧张。 In the first year, all students take five courses. 第一年，所有学生都选五门课程。 He said the first thing that came into his head. 他想到什么就说什么。 the first step towards achieving a peace agreement 达成和平协议的第一步 There’s a meeting on the first Monday of every month. 每月第一个星期一都会开会。the first two/three/few etc I only read the first two chapters of the book. 我只读了这本书的前两章。 It rained during the first few days of the trip. 旅行的头几天在下雨。 The first and last mountain I climbed was Mount Rundle (=it was the only mountain I ever climbed). 伦多山是我爬过的第一座山，也是最后一座。2 for the first time used to say that something has never happened or been done before 初次，第一次 For the first time in his life he felt truly happy. 他这辈子第一次真正地感到幸福。 The survey revealed that, for the first time, there are more women in the workplace than men. 这次调查显示，职场里女性首次多于男性。 Not for the first time she wondered how he coped with so many children. 她不止一次想知道他是如何应付这么多小孩子的。3 main 主要的MAIN most important 最重要的，首要的 Our first priority is to maintain the standard of work. 我们的首要目标是保持工作的水准。 As I see it, my first responsibility is to my family. 在我看来，我首先要对我的家庭尽责。4 in the first place a) used to talk about the beginning of a situation, or the situation before something happened 一开始，起初 Why did you agree to meet her in the first place? 一开始你为什么同意见她？ He wouldn’t have given you the job in the first place if he didn’t think you could do it. 要是他认为你干不了，一开始就不会给你那份工作的。 b) written used to give the first in a list of reasons or points 首先，第一〔用于列举理由或要点〕 Her success was secured by two factors. In the first place, she had the support of managers. 她的成功有两个因素作保证。首先，她得到了经理们的支持。5 in the first instance formalBEFORE at the start of a situation or series of actions 最初，第一，首先 The appointment of research officer will be for two years in the first instance. 研究员的初始任期为两年。 Enquiries should be made in the first instance to the Human Resources Director. 如需查询，请先与人力资源主管联系。6 at first glance/sight the first time that you look at someone or something, before you notice any details 乍一看，最初看到时 At first glance the twins look identical. 这对双胞胎乍一看一模一样。 At first sight, there didn’t appear to be much damage. 乍看之下损失似乎不太大。 → love at first sight at love2(2)7. first things first FIRSTused to say that something should be done or dealt with first because it is the most important 重要的事先来，要紧的事先做8 (at) first hand PERSONALLY/YOURSELFif you see, experience, hear etc something at first hand, you see, experience etc it yourself, not through other people 第一手地，直接地9 first prize/place WINthe prize that is given to the best person or thing in a competition 一等奖/第一名10 first choice BESTthe thing or person you like best 首选，第一选择11 first thing EARLYas soon as you get up in the morning, or as soon as you start work 早晨一醒来；一上班12 at first light literaryEARLY very early in the morning 一大早，天一亮13 make the first move FIRSTto be the person who starts to do something when someone else is too nervous, embarrassed etc to do it 〔在别人紧张、尴尬等时〕首先采取行动，率先挺身而出14 not have the first idea about something (also not know/understand the first thing about something)NOT KNOW to not know anything about a subject, or not know how to do something 对某事一窍不通[一无所知]15 the first flush of something the beginning of a good period of time when you are young, successful etc 某事物[某人]的初期强盛阶段16 job title 职衔 used in the title of someone’s job or position to show that they have a high rank 〔用于职衔名称，表示职位高〕17. first among equals IMPORTANTofficially on the same level as other people but really having more power 同级别中的领导者18. of the first water old-fashionedGOOD/EXCELLENT of the highest quality 第一流的，上等的，质量最高的
Examples from the Corpus
first• She made her first appearance on the stage in the 1950s.• She had her first baby in 1998.• I read the first chapter and got so scared I couldn't finish the book.• I've only read the first chapter, but it seems like a really good book.• I still remember my first day of school.• Put the first five ingredients into a large pot and simmer gently for an hour.• the first Monday of every month• Laurie's name was first on the list.• Our first priority is to maintain the quality of the product.• The first thing I ever had published was an article for the Boy Scout magazine.• Jenkins left his first wife after only two years of marriage.first and last• Instead of pressing the spacebar anywhere between the first and last characters of the text, press the Home spacebar.• These records included the first and last dates of all absences and the reason for absence.• At Banff I climbed my first and last mountain - Mount Rundle.• I sat back and treated myself to a cigarette, determined to make it the first and last of the day.• And a system whose first and last resort was all too often expediency.• For the first and last time in her life, Amelia was too preoccupied to interact with her peers.• It was the first and last time that management capitulated in the face of a departing mortgage trader.• She wrote that she was dying of a fever, and asked him to visit her for the first and last time.first2 ●●● S1 W2 adverb 1 before anything or anyone else 最先，最早2 before doing anything else, or before anything else happens 先，首先3 done for the first time 首次，第一次4 at the beginning of a situation or activity 开始之时，最初5 [sentence adverb] (also first of all) used before saying the first of several things you want to say 第一，首先 SYN firstly6 first off informal7 first up British English spoken informal used to introduce the first thing you are going to talk about, or the first thing that is going to happen 第一样东西，第一件事8 put somebody/something first to consider someone or something as the most important person or thing 认为某人/某事最重要，把某人/某事放在第一位9 come first 10 first and foremost used to emphasize the most important quality, purpose, reason etc 首先，首要的是〔用于强调〕11 first and last used to emphasize that something is the most important thing or quality 主要地〔强调是最重要的事或品质〕12 first come, first servedfirst served first come used to say that something will be given to the people who ask for it first, when there is not enough for everyone 先到先得n GrammarChoosing the right tenseFirst is used with the simple past: We first met in 2005. ✗Don’t say: We have first met in 2005.Word order• First usually comes before a main verb: I first went to Paris two years ago.• First comes after ‘be’ when it is the main verb: I was first in Paris two years ago.• First comes after the first auxiliary: When did you first realize you wanted to be a doctor? THESAURUSfirst/firstly used when mentioning the first in a list of reasons, arguments, or questions to consider 首先I want you to consider these three points in your essay: first, what is the writer’s attitude to the war in this poem ... 我希望你能在文章中阐述以下三点: 首先，本诗中作者对战争的态度…There are several reasons for this conclusion. Firstly ... 本结论基于以下理由: 首先…first of all used especially to emphasize that the first of several things you are going to say is the most important thing 首先〔尤用于强调所说的第一件事最重要〕The content of the article must, first of all, be accurate. 文章的内容首先必须准确无误。First of all, a huge thank you to everyone who has supported us over the last two years. 首先，非常感谢在过去两年里所有支持过我们的人。in the first place spoken (also for a start British English) spoken used when giving the first and most important reason or example, especially when you are arguing or discussing something with someone 首先〔用于列举重要理由或事例,尤在辩论或讨论时用〕Our main priority should be better public transport – in the first place to reduce the amount of traffic on our roads. 我们的重点应当是改善公共交通——首先要减少马路上的车流量。He’s not the right person for the job. For a start he’s too young. 他不是这份工作的合适人选。首先，他太年轻。to begin with/to start with spoken used when telling someone the first and most important thing that you want to say 首先〔用于说明最先以及最重要的事〕There are numerous activities on offer. To start with there are over 60 miles of walks with splendid views. 有各式各样的活动可供选择。首先便是长达60多英里的徒步观景之旅。nLet me tell you something about him. To begin with, he is the most difficult man that I know. Examples from the Corpus
first• "Shall we go for some lunch?" "Yeah, great, let me just make a quick call first."• Who's going first?• I always read the sports page of the newspaper first.• It's mine - I saw it first.• Shall we go out now, or do you want to eat first?• Shall we fill in the forms first, and get that out of the way?• We first became friends when we were teenagers.• When she first became pregnant, she contemplated an abortion, but eventually gave birth.• Yet it was designed in the 1970s, and first flew in 1981; the technology is rooted in those days.• Meanwhile, sociologists quote statistics that suggest that women who establish careers first have relatively small probabilities of getting married.• When I first heard about what happened, I thought it was a joke.• You can borrow the book, but first I've got to find it.• Johnson finished first in the 100-meter dash.• This strategy has worked best for those who were first in the cyber economy, the pioneers of the landless continent.• First, Jack would not allow it, and second, I don't think Mom would like it much either.• I'll help you with your homework, but first let me finish the dishes.• I first met Bobby when he enrolled in a summer program I had developed for underprepared students.• Simmons' book was first published in Australia last year.• It was here that I first started to get a closer feel for what the military operations were.• We have to think about that first, the Marlins second.• Add the onions and garlic first, then the mushrooms.First of all• Vincente frowned. First of all he picked up my clubs, pronounced them useless and advised me to sell them forthwith.• But some people were not happy about the accident. First of all, her boyfriend, Drew Stephens.• Dear Bash First of all I'd like to compliment you on such a brill and fabbo magazine.• I swung my boots up on to the bed and stretched out full length. First of all, I was not dead.• Well yes actually. First of all, it still costs £21,500 and for the money, almost nothing even gets close.• Now these are not going to be here for very much longer. First of all, the tank is too small.• I unpacked all the things he'd bought. First of all, there was G.P.'s picture.• First of all , we'd better make sure we have everything we need.first3 ●●● S2 W2 noun 1 at first used to talk about the beginning of a situation, especially when it is different now 起初2 [countable usually singular] something that has never happened or been done before 第一个[次]3 from the (very) first from the beginning of a situation 从一开始4 [countable] the highest mark you can get in a university degree in Britain 〔英国大学学位中的〕优等成绩，最高成绩5 [uncountable] the lowest gear in a car or other vehicle, that you use when moving slowly 〔汽车等交通工具的〕一挡，最低挡 SYN first gearExamples from the Corpus
That will be a first• Barbara has won countless glamorous grandmother contests since becoming the first ever winner of the Widnes title in 1977.• Get the men digging first though.• In essence, this was his first fight since Garcia, which was almost a year ago.• Stuart shook his head, and for the first time I saw that he was honestly impressed.• The company's first problem was with the ASICs which proved six months late.• The moon was high and the first birds had begun calling from the shrubs and marsh grass by the edge.• The ratios generated by the capture-recapture method display a remarkable similarity and identical ranking to those obtained by the first two methods.• The spirited debate that follows is cut off by the bell for the first bus.first4 ●●● S2 W2 pronoun 1 the first the first person to do something, or the first thing to happen 第一个人；首次出现的事物2 the first I knew/heard used when you have just discovered something that other people already know, and you are slightly annoyed 我第一次知道/听说〔指刚知道其他人已知之事，并略感气恼〕3 the First spoken used after the name of a king, queen, or pope when other later ones have the same name 一世〔用于国王、女王或教皇的名字后〕Origin first1 Old English fyrstfirst1 adjective →10-18
first2 adverb →n GRAMMAR1 →THESAURUS1first3 nounfirst4 pronounLDOCE OnlineChinese
first2 adverb →n GRAMMAR1 →THESAURUS1first3 nounfirst4 pronounLDOCE OnlineChinese
coming Corpus things all in or a the before people other
first
first1 S1 W1 /fɜːst $ fɜːrst/ 
adjective
Ella was his first girlfriend.
the first thing/time/day etc
The first time I flew on a plane I was really nervous.
In the first year, all students take five courses.
He said the first thing that came into his head.
the first step towards achieving a peace agreement
There’s a meeting on the first Monday of every month.
the first two/three/few etc
I only read the first two chapters of the book.
It rained during the first few days of the trip.
The first and last mountain I climbed was Mount Rundle (=it was the only mountain I ever climbed).
2. for the first time used to say that something has never happened or been done before:
For the first time in his life he felt truly happy.
The survey revealed that, for the first time, there are more women in the workplace than men.
Not for the first time she wondered how he coped with so many children.
3. MAIN most important:
Our first priority is to maintain the standard of work.
As I see it, my first responsibility is to my family.
4. in the first place
a. used to talk about the beginning of a situation, or the situation before something happened:
Why did you agree to meet her in the first place?
He wouldn’t have given you the job in the first place if he didn’t think you could do it.
b. written used to give the first in a list of reasons or points:
Her success was secured by two factors. In the first place, she had the support of managers.
5. in the first instance formal at the start of a situation or series of actions:
The appointment of research officer will be for two years in the first instance.
Enquiries should be made in the first instance to the Human Resources Director.
6. at first glance/sight the first time that you look at someone or something, before you notice any details:
At first glance the twins look identical.
At first sight, there didn’t appear to be much damage. ⇨ love at first sight at love2(2)
7. first things first used to say that something should be done or dealt with first because it is the most important
8. (at) first hand if you see, experience, hear etc something at first hand, you see, experience etc it yourself, not through other people:
Many people have seen the horrors of war at first hand. ⇨ first-hand
9. first prize/place the prize that is given to the best person or thing in a competition
win/take first prize
She won first prize in a painting competition.
first prize/place of
There is a first prize of £10,000.
10. first choice the thing or person you like best:
John was our first choice as a name for the baby.
11. first thing as soon as you get up in the morning, or as soon as you start work:
I’ll call you first thing tomorrow.
We’re leaving first thing.
12. at first light literary very early in the morning:
The search will resume at first light tomorrow.
13. make the first move to be the person who starts to do something when someone else is too nervous, embarrassed etc to do it:
He was glad she had made the first move and kissed him.
14. not have the first idea about something (also not know/understand the first thing about something) to not know anything about a subject, or not know how to do something:
I wouldn’t have the first idea about what to do in that situation.
I don’t know the first thing about cars.
15. the first flush of something the beginning of a good period of time when you are young, successful etc
be in the first flush of passion/youth etc
He was no longer in the first flush of youth.
The first flush of enthusiasm had passed.
16. JOB TITLE used in the title of someone’s job or position to show that they have a high rank:
the first officer
the First Lord of the Admiralty
17. first among equals officially on the same level as other people but really having more power
18. of the first water old-fashioned of the highest quality
first2 S1 W2 adverb
1. before anything or anyone else:
Cindy and Joe arrived first.
An extra five points will be given to the team that finishes first.
First of all we’d better make sure we’ve got everything we need.
2. before doing anything else, or before anything else happens:
I’ll join you in a minute but I need to make a phone call first.
3. done for the first time:
The book was first published in 2000.
4. at the beginning of a situation or activity:
When we were first married we lived in Toronto.
We first became friends when we worked together.
5. [sentence adverb] (also first of all) used before saying the first of several things you want to say
SYN firstly:
First, I’d like to thank everyone for coming.
6. first off informal
a. before doing anything else:
First off I’d like you all to fill in an evaluation sheet.
b. used before saying the first of several things you want to say, especially when you are annoyed:
First off I didn’t agree with the comments in your email.
7. first up British English spoken informal used to introduce the first thing you are going to talk about, or the first thing that is going to happen:
First up is the Blues song ‘Mississippi Lad’.
8. put somebody/something first to consider someone or something as the most important person or thing:
We need to choose energy policies that put the environment first.
Businesses should always put the customer first.
9. come first
a. to be the most important person or thing to someone:
The care and well-being of patients should always come first.
As far as I’m concerned, the children come first.
come first with
Business always came first with Luke.
b. to win a competition
come first in
The choir came first in all sections of the competition.
10. first and foremost used to emphasize the most important quality, purpose, reason etc:
Dublin is thought of first and foremost for its literary heritage.
11. first and last used to emphasize that something is the most important thing or quality:
She regarded herself as a teacher first and last, not a writer.
12. first come, first served used to say that something will be given to the people who ask for it first, when there is not enough for everyone:
Tickets will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.
▪ first/firstly used when mentioning the first in a list of reasons, arguments, or questions to consider: I want you to consider these three points in your essay: first, what is the writer’s attitude to the war in this poem ... | There are several reasons for this conclusion. Firstly ...
▪first of all used especially to emphasize that the first of several things you are going to say is the most important thing: The content of the article must, first of all, be accurate. | First of all, a huge thank you to everyone who has supported us over the last two years.
▪in the first place spoken (also for a start British English) spoken used when giving the first and most important reason or example, especially when you are arguing or discussing something with someone: Our main priority should be better public transport – in the first place to reduce the amount of traffic on our roads. | He’s not the right person for the job. For a start he’s too young.
▪to begin with/to start with spoken used when telling someone the first and most important thing that you want to say: There are numerous activities on offer. To start with there are over 60 miles of walks with splendid views. | Let me tell you something about him. To begin with, he is the most difficult man that I know.
first3 noun
1. at first used to talk about the beginning of a situation, especially when it is different now:
At first, Gregory was shy and hardly spoke.
I felt quite disappointed at first.
2. [countable usually singular] something that has never happened or been done before
first for
The 3–0 defeat was a first for the team.
These results are firsts in the history of women’s athletics.
‘I think he’ll agree to it.’‘That will be a first.’
3. from the (very) first from the beginning of a situation:
I was against the idea from the first.
I should have known from the first that the relationship would never work.
4. [countable] the highest mark you can get in a university degree in Britain:
Helen got a first in Law.
5. [uncountable] the lowest gear in a car or other vehicle, that you use when moving slowly
SYN first gear
in first
You should be in first on a hill like this.
He put the car into first and roared away.
first4 pronoun
1. the first the first person to do something, or the first thing to happen:
There are now many similar housing projects but this was the first.
We hope this year’s festival will be the first of many.
the first to do something
I always thought my sister would be the first to get married.
James was the first to arrive.
2. the first I knew/heard used when you have just discovered something that other people already know, and you are slightly annoyed:
The first I knew he was in York was when I got an email from him.
the first I knew/heard of/about
The first I knew about it was when Tony called me.
3. the First spoken used after the name of a king, queen, or Pope when other later ones have the same name:
Queen Elizabeth the First (=written as Queen Elizabeth I)
| I |
adjective Language: Old English
Origin: fyrst
1. IN A SERIES coming before all the other things or people in a series:Origin: fyrst
the first thing/time/day etc
the first two/three/few etc
2. for the first time used to say that something has never happened or been done before:
3. MAIN most important:
4. in the first place
a. used to talk about the beginning of a situation, or the situation before something happened:
b. written used to give the first in a list of reasons or points:
5. in the first instance formal at the start of a situation or series of actions:
6. at first glance/sight the first time that you look at someone or something, before you notice any details:
7. first things first used to say that something should be done or dealt with first because it is the most important
8. (at) first hand if you see, experience, hear etc something at first hand, you see, experience etc it yourself, not through other people:
9. first prize/place the prize that is given to the best person or thing in a competition
win/take first prize
first prize/place of
10. first choice the thing or person you like best:
11. first thing as soon as you get up in the morning, or as soon as you start work:
12. at first light literary very early in the morning:
13. make the first move to be the person who starts to do something when someone else is too nervous, embarrassed etc to do it:
14. not have the first idea about something (also not know/understand the first thing about something) to not know anything about a subject, or not know how to do something:
15. the first flush of something the beginning of a good period of time when you are young, successful etc
be in the first flush of passion/youth etc
16. JOB TITLE used in the title of someone’s job or position to show that they have a high rank:
17. first among equals officially on the same level as other people but really having more power
18. of the first water old-fashioned of the highest quality
| II |
adverb1. before anything or anyone else:
2. before doing anything else, or before anything else happens:
3. done for the first time:
4. at the beginning of a situation or activity:
5. [sentence adverb] (also first of all) used before saying the first of several things you want to say
SYN firstly:
6. first off informal
a. before doing anything else:
b. used before saying the first of several things you want to say, especially when you are annoyed:
7. first up British English spoken informal used to introduce the first thing you are going to talk about, or the first thing that is going to happen:
8. put somebody/something first to consider someone or something as the most important person or thing:
9. come first
a. to be the most important person or thing to someone:
come first with
b. to win a competition
come first in
10. first and foremost used to emphasize the most important quality, purpose, reason etc:
11. first and last used to emphasize that something is the most important thing or quality:
12. first come, first served used to say that something will be given to the people who ask for it first, when there is not enough for everyone:
| THESAURUS |
▪
▪
▪
| III |
noun1. at first used to talk about the beginning of a situation, especially when it is different now:
2. [countable usually singular] something that has never happened or been done before
first for
3. from the (very) first from the beginning of a situation:
4. [countable] the highest mark you can get in a university degree in Britain:
5. [uncountable] the lowest gear in a car or other vehicle, that you use when moving slowly
SYN first gear
in first
| IV |
pronoun1. the first the first person to do something, or the first thing to happen:
the first to do something
2. the first I knew/heard used when you have just discovered something that other people already know, and you are slightly annoyed:
the first I knew/heard of/about
3. the First spoken used after the name of a king, queen, or Pope when other later ones have the same name:
Ordering your points 梳理要点
◆ This study has the following aims:first , to investigate how international students in the UK use humour;second , to examine how jokes can help to establish social relationships; and,third , to explore the role that humour plays in helping overseas students adjust to life in the UK.本研究有以下几个目的：第一，调查在英国的留学生如何运用幽默；第二，考察笑话如何帮助建立社交关系；第三，探究幽默对留学生适应英国生活所起的作用。 ◆ Let us begin by identifying some of the popular joke genres in the UK.首先我们来探究一下流行于英国的一些笑话类型。 ◆ Next, let us turn to /Next, let us consider the question of gender differences in the use of humour.接下来，我们来探讨一下运用幽默的性别差异问题。 ◆ Finally /Lastly , let us briefly examine the role of humour in defining a nation's culture.最后，我们来简略地探讨一下幽默在界定民族文化中所起的作用。
Describing a process 描述过程
◆ This diagram illustrates the process of paper-making./This diagramshows how paper is made.这个图说明了造纸的过程。 ◆ First /First of all , logs are delivered to a paper mill, where the bark is removed and the wood is cut into small chips.首先，原木被运送到造纸厂，在那里去掉树皮，然后被切成木片。 ◆ Next /Second , the wood chips are pulped, either using chemicals or in a pulping machine.接下来，用化学品或磨浆机把木片化成浆。 ◆ Pulping breaks down the internal structure of the wood and enables /allows the natural oilsto be removed.制浆过程使木材的内部结构分解，从而去除木材里的天然油。 ◆ Once /After the wood has been pulped, the pulp is bleachedin order to remove impurities. /…is bleachedso that impuritiescan be removed.木材制成浆后，将其漂白以去除杂质。 ◆ The next stage is to feed the pulp into the paper machine, where it is mixed with waterand then poured onto a wire conveyor belt.下一步便是将纸浆送入制纸机，与水混合后再倒入金属传送带。 ◆ As the pulp travels along the conveyor belt, the water drains away.This causes the solid materialto sink to the bottom, forming a layer of paper.当纸浆沿传送带传送时，水分蒸发，使得固体物质沉到底部，形成一层纸。 ◆ At this point the new paper is still wet,so it is passed between large heated rollers, which press out the remaining water andsimultaneously dry the paper/…dry the paperat the same time .这时，新出的纸仍然是湿的，故让其经过几个巨大的热滚筒，挤压脱水并同时烘干。 ◆ The final stage is to wind the paper onto large rolls./Finally , the paper is wound onto large rolls.最后一步是将纸卷在巨大的卷轴上。
Firstly andfirst (of all) are used to introduce a series of facts, reasons, opinions, etc.* firstly 和 first (of all) 均用以引出一系列事实、理由、意见等 ：◆ The brochure is divided into two sections, dealing firstly with basic courses and secondly with advanced ones. 小册子分为两部分：第一部分涉及基础课程，第二部分涉及高级课程。 Firstly is more common inBrE NAmE * firstly 在英式英语中比在美式英语中更常用。 At first is used to talk about the situation at the beginning of a period of time, especially when you are comparing it with a different situation at a later period.* at first 用以讲述最初阶段的情况，尤指与后来的不同情况相比较 ：◆ Maggie had seen him nearly every day at first. Now she saw him much less. 起初玛吉几乎每天都见到他，现在见到他的次数少得多了。
Firstly andfirst (of all) are used to introduce a series of facts, reasons, opinions, etc.* firstly 和 first (of all) 均用以引出一系列事实、理由、意见等 ：◆ The brochure is divided into two sections, dealing firstly with basic courses and secondly with advanced ones. 小册子分为两部分：第一部分涉及基础课程，第二部分涉及高级课程。 Firstly is more common inBrE NAmE * firstly 在英式英语中比在美式英语中更常用。 At first is used to talk about the situation at the beginning of a period of time, especially when you are comparing it with a different situation at a later period.* at first 用以讲述最初阶段的情况，尤指与后来的不同情况相比较 ：◆ Maggie had seen him nearly every day at first. Now she saw him much less. 起初玛吉几乎每天都见到他，现在见到他的次数少得多了。
Describing a process 描述过程
◆ This diagram illustrates the process of paper-making./This diagramshows how paper is made.这个图说明了造纸的过程。 ◆ First /First of all , logs are delivered to a paper mill, where the bark is removed and the wood is cut into small chips.首先，原木被运送到造纸厂，在那里去掉树皮，然后被切成木片。 ◆ Next /Second , the wood chips are pulped, either using chemicals or in a pulping machine.接下来，用化学品或磨浆机把木片化成浆。 ◆ Pulping breaks down the internal structure of the wood and enables /allows the natural oilsto be removed.制浆过程使木材的内部结构分解，从而去除木材里的天然油。 ◆ Once /After the wood has been pulped, the pulp is bleachedin order to remove impurities. /…is bleachedso that impuritiescan be removed.木材制成浆后，将其漂白以去除杂质。 ◆ The next stage is to feed the pulp into the paper machine, where it is mixed with waterand then poured onto a wire conveyor belt.下一步便是将纸浆送入制纸机，与水混合后再倒入金属传送带。 ◆ As the pulp travels along the conveyor belt, the water drains away.This causes the solid materialto sink to the bottom, forming a layer of paper.当纸浆沿传送带传送时，水分蒸发，使得固体物质沉到底部，形成一层纸。 ◆ At this point the new paper is still wet,so it is passed between large heated rollers, which press out the remaining water andsimultaneously dry the paper/…dry the paperat the same time .这时，新出的纸仍然是湿的，故让其经过几个巨大的热滚筒，挤压脱水并同时烘干。 ◆ The final stage is to wind the paper onto large rolls./Finally , the paper is wound onto large rolls.最后一步是将纸卷在巨大的卷轴上。
Firstly andfirst (of all) are used to introduce a series of facts, reasons, opinions, etc.* firstly 和 first (of all) 均用以引出一系列事实、理由、意见等 ：◆ The brochure is divided into two sections, dealing firstly with basic courses and secondly with advanced ones. 小册子分为两部分：第一部分涉及基础课程，第二部分涉及高级课程。 Firstly is more common inBrE NAmE * firstly 在英式英语中比在美式英语中更常用。 At first is used to talk about the situation at the beginning of a period of time, especially when you are comparing it with a different situation at a later period.* at first 用以讲述最初阶段的情况，尤指与后来的不同情况相比较 ：◆ Maggie had seen him nearly every day at first. Now she saw him much less. 起初玛吉几乎每天都见到他，现在见到他的次数少得多了。
especially