First en inglés
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First
Principales usos de FIRST:
• primer, primero (adjetivo):
• primer, primero (adjetivo):
the first day el primer día
the first three pages las primeras tres páginas
• el primero, la primera (sujeto):
He is always the first to yell. Ël es siempre el primero.
• primero, en primer lugar (adverbio):
Bruno first met Horatio in the jungle. Bruno conoció a Horatio en la jungla.
When did you first hear of Delavigne? ¿Cuándo fue la primera vez que oíste de Delavigne?
En el inglés oral, encontramos frecuentemente first al final de la frase (gramaticalmente incorrecto, pero muy usado):
Let's wash our hands first. Lavémonos las manos primero.
• first of all, in the first place :
First of all, I'd like to introduce you to Mr Carter. Antes de nada, permítame presentarle al señor Carter.
It was Luna who had the idea for the party in the first place. Fue Luna la primera en tener la idea de la fiesta.
Ejercicio 1
Use the words from this list to fill in the blanks in the text. Be careful! Some words may be used more than once.
all | about | to | finally | first | before | as | with | on | in
'Hey, Philip, come here. I want to tell you a story my trip China,' said Kevin. 'Hold a minute, let me finish my lunch ,' answered Philip. Several minutes passed Philip entered Kevin's office. 'Ok, tell me your story,' said Philip. ' you may know, I went China last week. I had a meeting Mrs. Mei-Tsing Lee to discuss our new production plan. And, the day I went to her office, I accidentally got the wrong bus. And, the next thing I knew, I was North Korea.' 'Is that ?' 'Well, yes.'
all | about | to | finally | first | before | as | with | on | in
'Hey, Philip, come here. I want to tell you a story my trip China,' said Kevin. 'Hold a minute, let me finish my lunch ,' answered Philip. Several minutes passed Philip entered Kevin's office. 'Ok, tell me your story,' said Philip. ' you may know, I went China last week. I had a meeting Mrs. Mei-Tsing Lee to discuss our new production plan. And, the day I went to her office, I accidentally got the wrong bus. And, the next thing I knew, I was North Korea.' 'Is that ?' 'Well, yes.'
Use the words from this list to fill in the blanks in the text. Be careful! Some words may be used more than once.
all | about | to | finally | first | before | as | with | on | in
'Hey, Philip, come here. I want to tell you a story about 1 my trip to 2 China,' said Kevin. 'Hold on 3 a minute, let me finish my lunch first 4,' answered Philip. Several minutes passed before 5 Philip finally 6 entered Kevin's office. 'Ok, tell me your story,' said Philip. 'as 7 you may know, I went to 8 China last week. I had a meeting with 9 Mrs. Mei-Tsing Lee to discuss our new production plan. And, on 10 the day I went to her office, I accidentally got on 11 the wrong bus. And, the next thing I knew, I was in 12 North Korea.' 'Is that all 13?' 'Well, yes.'
all | about | to | finally | first | before | as | with | on | in
'Hey, Philip, come here. I want to tell you a story about 1 my trip to 2 China,' said Kevin. 'Hold on 3 a minute, let me finish my lunch first 4,' answered Philip. Several minutes passed before 5 Philip finally 6 entered Kevin's office. 'Ok, tell me your story,' said Philip. 'as 7 you may know, I went to 8 China last week. I had a meeting with 9 Mrs. Mei-Tsing Lee to discuss our new production plan. And, on 10 the day I went to her office, I accidentally got on 11 the wrong bus. And, the next thing I knew, I was in 12 North Korea.' 'Is that all 13?' 'Well, yes.'
1 about: We can talk about something, but we talk to someone. 'About' is the best choice here. Example: I want to talk to you about my mother.
2 to: Kevin is telling Philip about his trip to China. 'To' is the best choice because a 'trip' carries the idea of movement. When we speak about movement, we always talk about someone or something going from one place to another. In this case 'to' indicates the destination of Kevin's trip.
3 on: 'On' is the best choice here. "Hold on" is a common expression which means 'please wait' or 'wait a minute'. It is often used when speaking on the phone. Example: Please hold on while I grab a pencil.
4 first: 'First' is the correct choice. Philip says 'let me finish my lunch first', meaning that he wants to finish his lunch 'before' Kevin tells him the story of his trip to Asia.
5 before: 'Before' is the correct answer. It tells us that time has passed before Philip enters Kevin's office. Example: We were talking about you before you arrived.
6 finally: 'Finally' means 'at last' or 'lastly'. It is the best choice here. Example: I've finally finished reading War and Peace.
7 as: 'As you may know' is an expression which introduces a fact or statement which is presumably known by one person or a group of people. Example: As you will know, your mother and I have decided to adopt a guinea pig.
8 to: Kevin is telling Philip that he went 'to' China. 'To' is the best choice because the verb 'to go' carries the idea of movement, and the preposition 'to' indicates the object or destination of this movement. Example: I'm going to London next week.
9 with: 'With' groups together objects, people and ideas. It is the best choice here to tell us 'whom' Kevin met (Mei-Tsing Lee). Example: I had a date with a guy I met online.
10 on: "On the day" is the correct choice. We use this type of expression to give specific information about a date. Example: On August first, on Monday morning, etc.
11 on: 'To get on the bus' is to board a bus. When using prepositions with modes of transportation, we often run into problems. Usually, when we are speaking about public transportation (bus, metro, airplane, etc.) we use the preposition on. But if we are talking about a car, we use in (get in the car).
12 in: Kevin tells Philip that he was in North Korea, which means that he was inside the country or within the country's borders. Example: I was in Puerto Rico when the hurricane hit.
13 all: 'Is that all?' is a question which asks if someone is finished (speaking, shopping, etc.). Example: Is that all the cake you have left?
Ejercicio 2
Help to rewrite the following sentences by replacing the word first with another word, without changing the meaning of the sentence. Each option is used only once.
Now, children, I know you want to start eating, but we must say grace first ➝
Now, children, I know you want to start eating, but we must say grace .
It was the first time that Susie and Bruno saw each other ➝
It was the occasion on which Susie and Bruno saw each other.
That’s not bad for your first try! ➝
That’s not bad for your attempt!
Now, children, I know you want to start eating, but we must say grace first ➝
Now, children, I know you want to start eating, but we must say grace .
It was the first time that Susie and Bruno saw each other ➝
It was the occasion on which Susie and Bruno saw each other.
That’s not bad for your first try! ➝
That’s not bad for your attempt!
Help to rewrite the following sentences by replacing the word first with another word, without changing the meaning of the sentence. Each option is used only once.
Now, children, I know you want to start eating, but we must say grace first ➝
Now, children, I know you want to start eating, but we must say grace beforehand 1.
It was the first time that Susie and Bruno saw each other ➝
It was the earliest 2 occasion on which Susie and Bruno saw each other.
That’s not bad for your first try! ➝
That’s not bad for your initial 3 attempt!
Now, children, I know you want to start eating, but we must say grace first ➝
Now, children, I know you want to start eating, but we must say grace beforehand 1.
It was the first time that Susie and Bruno saw each other ➝
It was the earliest 2 occasion on which Susie and Bruno saw each other.
That’s not bad for your first try! ➝
That’s not bad for your initial 3 attempt!
1 beforehand: In this context, "first" means the same thing as "beforehand": the speaker is saying that they must say grace before or prior to eating. ("To say grace" is to say a prayer of thanks before a meal.) Another example: "Please don't leave yet! Give me a hug first!".
1 earliest: "Earliest" is grammatically incorrect in this sentence. "Earliest" is an adjective, and we need to use an adverb here because we are describing a verb ("to say grace") and the way it must be done. "Earliest" means "furthest back in time", for example: "What's the earliest time that you can meet me?" (What's the first point in the day at which you can meet me?).
1 initial: "Initial" is grammatically incorrect in this sentence. "Initial" is an adjective, and we need to use an adverb here because we are describing a verb ("to say grace") and the way it must be done. "Initial" means "first in a series or progression", for example: "This is just an initial outline of our plans: we will create a more detailed description later".
2 earliest: In this context, "first" means "earliest": this occasion was the furthest back in time of all the occasions on which Susie and Bruno saw each other. Another example: "What was your first job?" (Which of your jobs did you have at the earliest point in your life?).
2 beforehand: "Beforehand" is an adverb, and cannot be used to describe a noun like "occasion". "Beforehand" means "before another action" or "prior to that". For example: "Whenever Susie goes for a run, she always drinks a glass of water first/beforehand" (both terms have the same meaning here).
2 initial: Although "initial" is not grammatically wrong here, it isn't the most natural choice. We are unlikely to use the term "initial" to describe time-words such as "time" or "occasion". "Initial" focuses on something being the first in a series, and often implies a progression or change, for example: "This is the initial version of Grieg's composition; later drafts show extensive rewriting".
3 initial: In this context, "first" means "initial": the speaker is implying that the other person will try again in future and hopefully improve, so this is the first or initial attempt in a series or progression. Another example: "Don't pay too much attention to the details: this is just a first (initial) draft of the message".
3 earliest: Although "earliest" is not grammatically wrong here, it isn't the most natural choice. We are unlikely to use the term "earliest" to refer to something which is happening now, in the present, because "earliest" refers to the thing which is furthest in the past or which comes first in a defined period of time. For example: "What is your earliest memory?" (Which of your memories is furthest in the past?), "What is the earliest time you can meet me tomorrow?" (within the defined period "tomorrow").
3 beforehand: "Beforehand" is an adverb, and cannot be used to describe a noun like "attempt". "Beforehand" means "before another action" or "prior to that". For example: "Whenever Susie goes for a run, she always drinks a glass of water first/beforehand" (both terms have the same meaning here).
Ejercicio 3
Help to rewrite the following sentences by replacing the word first with another word, without changing the meaning of the sentence. Each option is used only once.
Is this your first visit to Timbuktu? ➝
Have you never visited Timbuktu ?
Jean found the first three months of living in San Francisco very difficult ➝
Jean found the three months of living in San Francisco very difficult.
Dr Von Headcold wrote the first guide to treating anosmia ➝
Dr Von Headcold wrote the guide to treating anosmia.
Is this your first visit to Timbuktu? ➝
Have you never visited Timbuktu ?
Jean found the first three months of living in San Francisco very difficult ➝
Jean found the three months of living in San Francisco very difficult.
Dr Von Headcold wrote the first guide to treating anosmia ➝
Dr Von Headcold wrote the guide to treating anosmia.
Help to rewrite the following sentences by replacing the word first with another word, without changing the meaning of the sentence. Each option is used only once.
Is this your first visit to Timbuktu? ➝
Have you never visited Timbuktu before 1?
Jean found the first three months of living in San Francisco very difficult ➝
Jean found the initial 2 three months of living in San Francisco very difficult.
Dr Von Headcold wrote the first guide to treating anosmia ➝
Dr Von Headcold wrote the original 3 guide to treating anosmia.
Is this your first visit to Timbuktu? ➝
Have you never visited Timbuktu before 1?
Jean found the first three months of living in San Francisco very difficult ➝
Jean found the initial 2 three months of living in San Francisco very difficult.
Dr Von Headcold wrote the first guide to treating anosmia ➝
Dr Von Headcold wrote the original 3 guide to treating anosmia.
1 before: If this is someone's first visit to a place, then they have never visited the place before (previously, in the past). Another example: "I've never eaten Japanese food before. This is my first time trying it".
1 original: "Original" is grammatically incorrect in this sentence. "Original" is an adjective, and we need to use an adverb here because we are describing a verb ("visited") and the way it is done. An example with "original": "William Hartnell was the original Doctor Who: he was the first person to play the character on TV".
1 initial: "Initial" is grammatically incorrect in this sentence. "Initial" is an adjective, and we need to use an adverb here because we are describing a verb ("visited") and the way it is done. An example with "initial": "My initial thoughts were completely wrong" (My first thoughts were wrong; I had other, more accurate thoughts later).
2 initial: Jean's "initial three months in San Francisco" are the first three months which he spent living there. The use of the word "initial" here implies both that these months came earliest in time, and also that his time in San Francisco improved later. Another example: "My first/initial attempt at performing magic ended in disaster, but two years later, I was a professional!".
2 original: If something is the "original", then it is the earliest version of something in existence. For example: "The original recording of this song didn't feature any drums at all". This meaning doesn't fit here, because Jean's time in San Francisco doesn't have different versions.
2 before: "Before" is an adverb, and cannot describe a noun like "months". We might say: "Jean found it hard in San Francisco: he had never lived abroad before" (before that time).
3 original: Dr von Headcold's guide was "the original guide": this means that it was the first guide of its kind, and was a definitive guide on the subject at the time. Another example: "We are following the original recipe for hummus today" (We are using the first, definitive recipe).
3 initial: Although "initial" is not grammatically wrong here, it is not the most natural choice. We would be more likely to say "an initial guide" (rather than "the"), because the word "initial" implies that later guides (or later versions) were better or more definitive. For example: "An initial version of the painting was abandoned by the artist; the version seen today was completed a year later".
3 before: "Before" is an adverb, and cannot describe a noun like "guide". We might say: "When Dr von Headcold wrote his guide to anosmia, nobody had ever published a full-length book on the subject before".
Ejercicio 4
Choose between first and the first.
OK, everyone, it’s time for the speeches! Who wants to go ?
You are person to ever call me “beautiful”!
I should never have accepted this job in place.
OK, everyone, it’s time for the speeches! Who wants to go ?
You are person to ever call me “beautiful”!
I should never have accepted this job in place.
Choose between first and the first.
OK, everyone, it’s time for the speeches! Who wants to go first 1?
You are the first 2 person to ever call me “beautiful”!
I should never have accepted this job in the first 3 place.
OK, everyone, it’s time for the speeches! Who wants to go first 1?
You are the first 2 person to ever call me “beautiful”!
I should never have accepted this job in the first 3 place.
1 first: "To go first" is a common expression meaning "to do something before the other people" or "to be the first person to act". Another example: "OK, we're ready to start playing Game of Boards! Who wants to go first?" (take the first turn).
1 the first: There is no reason to use "the" in this sentence. "The" generally comes before a noun, for example: "The first page of the book".
2 the first: We must say "the first" here because we are referring to a specific person. The person being spoken to called the speaker "beautiful" before anyone else every did, so the description "the first" applies to them only. Another example: "The first female head of state was Sirimavo Bandaranaike".
2 first: This sentence doesn't make sense without "the". The noun "person" must be preceded by an article.
3 the first: "In the first place" is a common idiom meaning "originally, to start with, in the beginning". The speaker is saying that their original decision to accept the job was a a bad decision, and that they should have realized this at the time. Another example: "You're the one who suggested the party in the first place!" (You originally suggested the party).
3 first: Don't confuse "in the first place", which means "originally", with "in first place" which means "in first position". If someone finishes in first place, it means that they win a race or competition. For example: "The marathon is over, and in first place: Marion Quincy!".
Ejercicio 5
Choose between first and the first.
My child is much more rebellious than my younger children.
Luna plans to start her new diet on day of spring.
of all, I will show you to your desk.
My child is much more rebellious than my younger children.
Luna plans to start her new diet on day of spring.
of all, I will show you to your desk.
Choose between first and the first.
My first 1 child is much more rebellious than my younger children.
Luna plans to start her new diet on the first 2 day of spring.
first 3 of all, I will show you to your desk.
My first 1 child is much more rebellious than my younger children.
Luna plans to start her new diet on the first 2 day of spring.
first 3 of all, I will show you to your desk.
1 first: "My first child" means "the first child which I had" or "my eldest child". For example: "-Who was your first child, Otis or Eric? -Eric. He's two years older than Otis".
1 the first: We cannot use both a possessive adjective (my, your, his, etc.) and an article (the, a) before a noun. We can say "My first girlfriend" or "The first woman I ever kissed".
2 the first: We must say "the first" here because we are referring to a specific day. There is only one day which is the first day of the season of spring, so we use the article "the" before the noun "day". Another example: "January is the first month of the year".
2 first: This sentence doesn't make sense without "the". The noun "day" must be preceded by an article.
3 first: "First of all" is a common expression which means "before anything else". The speaker is emphasizing that they will show the other person to their desk before doing anything else. Another example: "First of all, we need to prepare the soil in which we will plant the seeds".
3 the first: This is not correct English. The definite article "the" generally precedes a noun. For example: "It was the first house of all the houses I visited".
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