it was the first time that OR when

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

Hi,

Could you please tell me which is better?

It was the first time that I had been there.
It was the first time when I had been there.

Thanks
Liza

2

Hi Liza

Use ‘that’. (The word ‘that’ can also be omitted.)
It was the first time (that) I had been there.
.

3

Amy’s right.

You could use the other in this way:

It was the first time when I had been there that …
It was the first time, when I had been, there that…