Mastering “On the First Day”: A Simple Grammar Guide

Ever felt nervous starting something new? A new job, a new school, or even a new gym membership? Describing that initial experience is a key part of storytelling. This is where the adverbial phrase on the first day becomes incredibly useful. Learning how to use this simple phrase correctly will boost your confidence and help you achieve greater fluency in English. In this guide, we will explore its meaning, grammar, and practical use, helping you master it in no time.

Table of Contents

• What Does “On the First Day” Mean?
• What Type of Adverbial Phrase Is “On the First Day”?
• Example Sentences with “On the First Day”
• When and How to Use “On the First Day”
• Summary and Practice Tip

What Does “On the First Day” Mean?

In simple terms, "on the first day" means on the initial or beginning day of an event, activity, or period.

This phrase functions as a verb modifier, answering the question "When?" It helps add specific details to your sentences, making your descriptions clearer and more vivid. When you say, "I felt overwhelmed on the first day of my new job," you are telling the listener exactly when you had that feeling. It's a fundamental tool for structuring stories and sharing experiences.

More: Mastering 'By the End of the Week': A Simple Grammar Guide

What Type of Adverbial Phrase Is “On the First Day”?

This phrase is a classic example of an Adverbial Phrase of Time. Its purpose is to tell us when an action occurred. Understanding its structure and placement is key to using it correctly in your ESL writing.

Grammatical Structure

The phrase is built with a few simple parts:

• Preposition:on
• Determiner:the
• Ordinal Number (Adjective):first
• Noun:day

Position in a Sentence

One of the best things about "on the first day" is its flexibility. You can place it at the beginning or the end of a sentence.

• At the beginning (followed by a comma):

  • On the first day, [Subject] + [Verb]...
  • Example: On the first day, the team met the new project manager.

• At the end (no comma needed):

  • [Subject] + [Verb]... on the first day.
  • Example: The team met the new project manager on the first day.

Both sentence structures are correct and common in English. Placing it at the beginning can add a little more emphasis to the time element.

More: Mastering 'At Bedtime': A Simple Grammar Guide for English Learners

Example Sentences with “On the First Day”

Seeing the phrase in action is the best way to learn. Here are some natural sentence examples to help you understand its use in different contexts.

• The teacher explained all the classroom rules on the first day of the semester.
• On the first day of our vacation, it rained, so we stayed inside and played board games.
• I received my uniform and name tag on the first day of my job at the café.

Here is a short dialogue:

• Person A: "Are you enjoying your new coding class?"
• Person B: "Yes, it's great! The instructor gave us a tour of the entire system on the first day."

More: Mastering 'After the Ceremony': A Simple Grammar and Usage Guide

When and How to Use “On the First Day”

This phrase is incredibly versatile. You can use it in both formal and informal situations, from writing an email to your boss to telling a friend about your holiday.

Common Use Cases:

• Storytelling: Describing the beginning of a journey, a job, or an important life event.
• Instructions: "On the first day, you must complete the safety training."
• Recounting Memories: "I remember feeling so excited on the first day of high school."

Common Mistakes to Avoid

The most common error ESL learners make is using the wrong preposition. Remember to always use on when referring to specific days.

• Incorrect:In the first day...
• Correct:On the first day...

This rule applies because we use the preposition "on" for specific dates and days. As the Cambridge Dictionary clarifies, a "day" is a distinct unit of time, which is why "on" is the correct preposition.

Related Phrases

A common and slightly more informal alternative is "on day one." It carries the same meaning but can sound a bit more modern and emphatic. For example: "On day one, we knew this project would be a success."

Summary and Practice Tip

To summarize, on the first day is a crucial adverbial phrase of time that specifies when an action began. It is composed of on + the + first + day, can be placed at the start or end of a sentence, and is a cornerstone of clear English communication.

Mastering this phrase will help improve your sentence structure and make your stories more engaging. Don't be afraid to use it!

Your turn to practice! Write a sentence in the comments below using "on the first day" to describe a new experience you had. We'd love to read it!