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MrCurious Posted 19 years ago
Grammar
He is the first man to step on themoon
He is the first man to step on the moon.
Which meanining can I draw out of this entence? I thought "to infinitive "can refer to both past and future. Am I wrong?
1. He is the first man who stepped on the moon.
2. He is the first man who will step on the moon.
Thank you
Which meanining can I draw out of this entence? I thought "to infinitive "can refer to both past and future. Am I wrong?
1. He is the first man who stepped on the moon.
2. He is the first man who will step on the moon.
Thank you
Top answer
My try: I think verb/predicate plays and important role in the meaining. He was the first man to step on the moon--- He stepped first on the moon. He is the first man to step on the moon--- He will step first on the moon.
- My try: I think verb/predicate plays and important role in the meaining.
- He was the first man to step on the moon--- He stepped first on the moon.
- He is the first man to step on the moon--- He will step first on the moon.
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5 Answers
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My try:
I think verb/predicate plays and important role in the meaining.
He was the first man to step on the moon--- He stepped first on the moon.
He is the first man to step on the moon--- He will step first on the moon.
I think verb/predicate plays and important role in the meaining.
He was the first man to step on the moon--- He stepped first on the moon.
He is the first man to step on the moon--- He will step first on the moon.
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Do you know what is predicate or verb? Here is and was are predicates. And I comment it like that:
If there is was in the sentence, that means the action was done in the past. But if there is is in the sentence then it wil be done in the future for the first time.
If there is was in the sentence, that means the action was done in the past. But if there is is in the sentence then it wil be done in the future for the first time.
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Hi MrC
I think He is the first man to step on the moon. can be understood both ways. However, if you want to make the past meaning absolutely clear, then you can use the perfect infinitve:
He is the first man to have stepped on the moon.
I think He is the first man to step on the moon. can be understood both ways. However, if you want to make the past meaning absolutely clear, then you can use the perfect infinitve:
He is the first man to have stepped on the moon.
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Aha! I have forgotten about the perfect use with the first... Then, that means there is no need to was.
Thanks for sending a reply Yankee.
Thanks for sending a reply Yankee.
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