Translation interests me.
Referring to Becky's recent post: It seems the consensus is, 挑战 is a verb.
我第一次挑战这么高难度的手术。
I/my first time challenge such difficult operation
(This was) the first time I had faced such a difficult operation.
What interests me in this is how you decide what is what.
Is 我 I, me or my?
Is 挑战 a verb or a noun? How do you know what you know?
我第一次 mostly gets translated as "my first, my first time".
Are these Type 1 translations, gathered from the Internet, all wrong?
Maybe, the distinction I/my is actually not present in Chinese?
这是我第一次访问纽约。
Question: In Chinese, are you really saying: "This is I first (time) visit New York."? Is it only in English that we require 'my'?
Type 1 translation: My first X, my first time X (should it be I first X??)
1. 我第一次跳伞的经历很令人激动。
My first parachute jump was an exhilarating experience.
2. 这是我第一次访问纽约。
It's my first visit to New York.
3. 我第一次从空中看到这个岛时,叹赏不已。
My first view of the island from the air took my breath away.
4. 这是我第一次出国,我要充分利用这个机会。
It's my first trip abroad so I'm going to make the most of it.
5. 那是我第一次到唐人街参观。
That was my first visit to Chinatown.
6. 这是我第一次受审。
This is my first trial.
7. 演员们都很有名气,而且这是我第一次在真正的剧院里演出。
The actors were famous, and besides it was my first time in a real theatre.
Then there is
Type 2 translation: the first I X, the first time I X, I first X,
1. 那是我第一次忘记母亲节。
That was the first time I forgot Mothers Day.
2. 就是在那儿,我第一次看到了野生短尾鳄。
It was there (that) I first saw (a) wild alligator.
3. 我第一次遇见8岁的凯蒂是在一个下雨的下午。
I first met 8-year-old Katy on a rainy afternoon.
4. 那是我第一次踏上非洲大地。
It was the first time I had set foot on African soil.
5. 那是我第一次踏足美洲大地。
It was the first time I had set foot on American soil.
Then there is
Type 3 translation: my first time to X, the first time I have X
1. 这是我第一次独自开车。
It's my first time to drive alone.
2. 这是我第一次吃火锅。
This is my first time to eat hot pot.
3. 我第一次吃这么好吃的拉面。
(This is) the first time I've eaten such delicious spicy noodles.
4. 这是我第一次与人发生性关系。
This was the first sexual relationship I'd had.
5. 这可是我第一次听说这件事!
This is the first I've heard of it!