Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[Crisi]

Please, could you tell me if the following sentence is correct?

I spent my holidays for the first time in this old mysterious chalet in the mountains.

Thanks a lot in advance.

[2006]

It's not a good sentence because I can't be sure if you mean A or B, although I am guessing that you mean A.
A...(This is)(That was) the first time I spent my holidays in this mysterious old chalet in the mountains.
B...I spent my first holidays in this mysterious old chalet in the mountains.

[Crisi]

Thanks for your answer.

I have another questions. Wouldn't it have to be:

That was the first time that I had spent my holidays in this mysterious old chalet.

At least in British English I think it would have to be this way. Is it different in AmE ?

[2006]

You don't need "had" in that sentence because it serves no purpose. Simple past tense is all you need.