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Lcchang Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
to develop or develop
He was the first person to develop a modern helicopter.
He was the first person who developed a modern helicopter.
He was the first person developing a modern helcopter.
Dears teachers,
Could you tell me which of the above sentences is not correct, and why not. They all look OK grammatically.
LCChang
He was the first person who developed a modern helicopter.
He was the first person developing a modern helcopter.
Dears teachers,
Could you tell me which of the above sentences is not correct, and why not. They all look OK grammatically.
LCChang
Top answer
the first two are OK the third is incomplete, perhaps: He was the first person developing a modern hel i copter while we tried the same.
- the first two are OK the third is incomplete, perhaps: He was the first person developing a modern hel i copter while we tried the same.
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17 Answers
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the first two are OK
the third is incomplete, perhaps:
He was the first person developing a modern helicopter while we tried the same.
the third is incomplete, perhaps:
He was the first person developing a modern helicopter while we tried the same.
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The first two are ok. The third is not feasible even with MH's addition.
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Nona The BritThe first two are ok. The third is not feasible even with MH's addition.Sorry, but I just can't understand. I thought developing was just a present participle abrreviated from who developed in grammar aspect. I guess most of the learners would be as confused as I.
LCCha
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He was the first person to develop a modern helicopter.
He was the first person developing a modern helcopter.
This goes back to the same question discussed many times before. When can we use infinitive and gerund (or present participle)? “To develo
He was the first person developing a modern helcopter.
This goes back to the same question discussed many times before. When can we use infinitive and gerund (or present participle)? “To develo
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Goodman
He was the first person to develop a modern helicopter.
He was the first person developing a modern helcopter.
This goes back to the same question discussed many times before. When can we use infinitive and geru
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the first/last ... to ...is so idiomatic that it is difficult for me to accept any other way of saying it. 
He
He
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I guess the rule of thumb is that when you have a construct with “someone is the first” the form should be likely infinitive.
However, nothing is absolute and only the context will determine the proper form of the verb.
e.g. My brother was the first in our family to achieve a Ph D degree. Not “achieving”.
However, nothing is absolute and only the context will determine the proper form of the verb.
e.g. My brother was the first in our family to achieve a Ph D degree. Not “achieving”.
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Goodman
I guess the rule of thumb is that when you have a construct with “someone is the first” the form should be likely infinitive.
However, nothing is absolute and only the context will determine the proper form of the verb.
e.g. My brother was the first in our family to achieve
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Some relative clause equivalents in the active voice:
The man walking in the street is Mr Bell. (= who/that is walking)
The man walking in the street was Mr Bell. (= who/that was walking)
After ordinals and the next, the last, the only the infinitive is usually used instead of the present partici
The man walking in the street is Mr Bell. (= who/that is walking)
The man walking in the street was Mr Bell. (= who/that was walking)
After ordinals and the next, the last, the only the infinitive is usually used instead of the present partici
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