I saw VS I have seen

A native speaker would say "King Kong is the first movie I have ever seen."

Thank you!!!

I'd personally say King Kong was the first movie I ever saw.

CSnyderI'd personally say King Kong was the first movie I ever saw.

Me, too. But why? I think it's because of "first". To my ear it is equivalent to specifying a definite time. But that depends on the individual. I'm not sure that everyone would sense that as an equivalence.

Similarly,

That was the last time I saw him before he died.

To me, first is similar to, say, best.

Aspara GusTo me, first is similar to, say, best.

Yes, I can see that viewpoint as well. 'best' isn't temporal, though, and 'first' is. Since we're dealing with verb tenses, which are temporal, maybe that's the difference to be dealt with. Don't know.

CJ

CalifJim'best' isn't temporal, though, and 'first' is.

I don't think that really matters here. First is modifying a noun. It's not being used as a specific time reference, as in I saw that movie first. Well, not to me, anyway.