I first met

USAGE SUMMARY

"I first met" is a perfectly grammatically correct phrase that can be used in written English.
You would use it when you are describing a situation in which you first encountered someone or something, such as, "I first met John at a party last summer."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I first met Arabella in 1989.

Independent

That's how I first met him.

The New Yorker

I first met Steck last November.

The New Yorker

I first met him in hospital.

Independent

I first met Cramer in October, 2011.

The New Yorker

I first met Shahid in 2008.

The New York Times

Now: how I first met James.

The New York Times

I first met Lewis at the Royal Automobile Club.

Independent

So that's when I first met him".

The Guardian

I first met Azalea in February 2013.

The Guardian - Music

I first met Dr. Ores last summer.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I first met" when you want to clearly establish the beginning of your acquaintance or relationship with someone in a narrative.

Common error

Avoid using "I first met" without providing any context or a specific timeframe, as this can leave the reader wondering when the event took place.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I first met" functions as an introductory clause in a narrative, establishing the beginning of a relationship or acquaintance. This is evidenced by the examples provided by Ludwig, which consistently use the phrase to set the stage for a story or description.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "I first met" is a very common and grammatically correct construction used to introduce an initial encounter with someone. As Ludwig highlights, it's widely employed across various news and media sources. While its register is generally neutral, it is essential to provide context or a specific timeframe to ensure clarity. Consider alternatives such as "I initially met" or "The first time I met" for slight variations in tone or emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I initially met

Replaces "first" with "initially", offering a slightly more formal tone.

The first time I met

Adds a temporal emphasis.

I encountered for the first time

Emphasizes the novelty of the encounter.

My first encounter with

Changes the sentence structure to focus on the encounter itself.

It was when I met for the first time

Shifts the focus to a specific moment in time.

The day I met for the first time

Emphasizes a specific day.

I was introduced to

Highlights the act of introduction, if applicable.

I happened to meet

Suggests a chance or accidental meeting.

I came to know

Focuses on the beginning of a relationship or acquaintance.

Our paths first crossed

A more metaphorical and literary way to describe the first meeting.

FAQs

How do I use "I first met" in a sentence?

Use "I first met" to introduce the initial encounter with someone. For example, "I first met John at a conference in 2018."

What can I say instead of "I first met"?

You can use alternatives like "I initially met", "I encountered for the first time", or "The first time I met" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "I met first" instead of "I first met"?

No, "I met first" is grammatically incorrect. The adverb "first" should precede the verb "met" to correctly indicate the chronological order of the meeting.

What's the difference between "I first met" and "I have known"?

"I first met" refers to the initial encounter, while "I have known" implies an ongoing relationship since that initial meeting. For example, "I first met her in college, and I have known her ever since".