first
- firstly
‘first’ used as an adjective
The first thing, event, or person of a particular kind is the one that comes before all the others.
She lost 16 pounds in the first month of her diet.
Yuri Gagarin was the first man in space.
If you want to emphasize that a thing, event, or person is the first one of their kind, you can put very in front of first.
The very first thing I do when I get home is have a cup of tea.
‘first’ used as an adverb
If an event happens before other events, you say that it happens first.
Rani spoke first.
When people get their newspaper, which page do they read first?
Be careful
Don't use ‘firstly’ with this meaning. Don't say, for example, ‘Rani spoke firstly’.
Don't use ‘firstly’ with this meaning. Don't say, for example, ‘Rani spoke firstly’.
‘first’ and ‘firstly’ used as sentence adverbials
You can use first or firstly to introduce the first point in a discussion, the first of a series of questions or instructions, or the first item in a list.
First, mix the eggs and flour.
There are two reasons why I'm angry. Firstly you're late, and secondly, you've forgotten your homework.
If you want to emphasize that an item is the first one you are going to mention, you can say first of all.
I have made a commitment, first of all to myself, and secondly to my family.
First of all, I'd like to thank you all for coming.
Be careful
Don't say ‘firstly of all’.
Don't say ‘firstly of all’.
‘at first’
When you are contrasting feelings or actions at the beginning of an event with ones that came later, you say at first.
At first I was reluctant.
At first I thought that the shop was empty, then from behind one of the counters a man appeared.
Be careful
Don't use ‘firstly’ in sentences like these.
Don't use ‘firstly’ in sentences like these.