era la primera vez que

it was the first time that

→ ser

phrase Rare #29,759

it was the first time that Used to describe something happening for the first time in the past. The verb after que often appears in the imperfect or another past tense, depending on the context.

SP: Era la primera vez que viajaba en avión.

EN: It was the first time I had traveled by plane.

Era la primera vez que caminaba a lo largo del río Mogami.

It was the first time I had walked along the Mogami River.

No era la primera vez que Tom conducía un deportivo.

It wasn't the first time Tom had driven a sports car.

Era la primera vez que iba al extranjero.

It was the first time he had gone abroad.

Según tú, tu madre se fue por la mañana y no era la primera vez que desaparecía.

According to you, your mother left in the morning, and it wasn’t the first time she’d disappeared.

— Volver (2006)

Era la primera vez que Tom vivía solo.

It was the first time Tom had lived alone.

Era la primera vez que vinimos aquí.

It was the first time we'd come here.

— Sacrificio (1986)

Era la primera vez que ella vivía lejos de casa.

It was the first time she had lived away from home.

No era la primera vez que lo veía.

It wasn't the first time I'd seen him.

— Dolor y gloria (2019)

Era la primera vez que Tom vivía lejos de casa.

It was the first time Tom had lived away from home.

Era la primera vez que se oía su voz por la radio.

It was the first time his voice had ever been heard on the radio.

— El último emperador (1987)