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He is the first man to arrive here
He is the first man to arrive here
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He is the first man to arrive here.
I'm confused what this sentence means.
I think it could mean either of the options below according to context, like
- He is the first man who is going to arrive here.
- He is the first man who has just arrived here.
meaning
add a comment |
He is the first man to arrive here.
I'm confused what this sentence means.
I think it could mean either of the options below according to context, like
- He is the first man who is going to arrive here.
- He is the first man who has just arrived here.
meaning
add a comment |
He is the first man to arrive here.
I'm confused what this sentence means.
I think it could mean either of the options below according to context, like
- He is the first man who is going to arrive here.
- He is the first man who has just arrived here.
meaning
He is the first man to arrive here.
I'm confused what this sentence means.
I think it could mean either of the options below according to context, like
- He is the first man who is going to arrive here.
- He is the first man who has just arrived here.
meaning
meaning
asked 6 hours ago
FloretFloret
7341823
7341823
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add a comment |
2 Answers
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It means exactly what it says. If there are one or more people who have come from somewhere else, then it describes the first man to have arrived.
It doesn't necessarily mean that he has just arrived.
If the event were being commentated on, the sentence could be spoken when the man appears. Many hours later, especially if no other man has arrived, the sentence could be spoken again—although, in that case, it would probably be more common (although not essential) to say he is still the first man to arrive here.
In another scenario, consider a fantasy story involving a quest that has always been completed by women:
Although many women have done so, he is the first man to complete the quest.
He could have completed the quest many years ago, but you could still use the present tense while he is alive. (If he were to die, then the past tense would need to be used.)
Just because it happened at some point in the past doesn't mean that you have to use the past tense when you are talking about a still-existing quality of a person. If something is still true, or if it's a general truth, the present tense can be used in addition to the past tense.
add a comment |
You are correct. It can mean both things depending on the context. The context will tell you if it is describing something that is scheduled for the future, or something that has happened in the past.
New contributor
add a comment |
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2 Answers
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2 Answers
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It means exactly what it says. If there are one or more people who have come from somewhere else, then it describes the first man to have arrived.
It doesn't necessarily mean that he has just arrived.
If the event were being commentated on, the sentence could be spoken when the man appears. Many hours later, especially if no other man has arrived, the sentence could be spoken again—although, in that case, it would probably be more common (although not essential) to say he is still the first man to arrive here.
In another scenario, consider a fantasy story involving a quest that has always been completed by women:
Although many women have done so, he is the first man to complete the quest.
He could have completed the quest many years ago, but you could still use the present tense while he is alive. (If he were to die, then the past tense would need to be used.)
Just because it happened at some point in the past doesn't mean that you have to use the past tense when you are talking about a still-existing quality of a person. If something is still true, or if it's a general truth, the present tense can be used in addition to the past tense.
add a comment |
It means exactly what it says. If there are one or more people who have come from somewhere else, then it describes the first man to have arrived.
It doesn't necessarily mean that he has just arrived.
If the event were being commentated on, the sentence could be spoken when the man appears. Many hours later, especially if no other man has arrived, the sentence could be spoken again—although, in that case, it would probably be more common (although not essential) to say he is still the first man to arrive here.
In another scenario, consider a fantasy story involving a quest that has always been completed by women:
Although many women have done so, he is the first man to complete the quest.
He could have completed the quest many years ago, but you could still use the present tense while he is alive. (If he were to die, then the past tense would need to be used.)
Just because it happened at some point in the past doesn't mean that you have to use the past tense when you are talking about a still-existing quality of a person. If something is still true, or if it's a general truth, the present tense can be used in addition to the past tense.
add a comment |
It means exactly what it says. If there are one or more people who have come from somewhere else, then it describes the first man to have arrived.
It doesn't necessarily mean that he has just arrived.
If the event were being commentated on, the sentence could be spoken when the man appears. Many hours later, especially if no other man has arrived, the sentence could be spoken again—although, in that case, it would probably be more common (although not essential) to say he is still the first man to arrive here.
In another scenario, consider a fantasy story involving a quest that has always been completed by women:
Although many women have done so, he is the first man to complete the quest.
He could have completed the quest many years ago, but you could still use the present tense while he is alive. (If he were to die, then the past tense would need to be used.)
Just because it happened at some point in the past doesn't mean that you have to use the past tense when you are talking about a still-existing quality of a person. If something is still true, or if it's a general truth, the present tense can be used in addition to the past tense.
It means exactly what it says. If there are one or more people who have come from somewhere else, then it describes the first man to have arrived.
It doesn't necessarily mean that he has just arrived.
If the event were being commentated on, the sentence could be spoken when the man appears. Many hours later, especially if no other man has arrived, the sentence could be spoken again—although, in that case, it would probably be more common (although not essential) to say he is still the first man to arrive here.
In another scenario, consider a fantasy story involving a quest that has always been completed by women:
Although many women have done so, he is the first man to complete the quest.
He could have completed the quest many years ago, but you could still use the present tense while he is alive. (If he were to die, then the past tense would need to be used.)
Just because it happened at some point in the past doesn't mean that you have to use the past tense when you are talking about a still-existing quality of a person. If something is still true, or if it's a general truth, the present tense can be used in addition to the past tense.
answered 5 hours ago
Jason BassfordJason Bassford
19.8k22542
19.8k22542
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add a comment |
You are correct. It can mean both things depending on the context. The context will tell you if it is describing something that is scheduled for the future, or something that has happened in the past.
New contributor
add a comment |
You are correct. It can mean both things depending on the context. The context will tell you if it is describing something that is scheduled for the future, or something that has happened in the past.
New contributor
add a comment |
You are correct. It can mean both things depending on the context. The context will tell you if it is describing something that is scheduled for the future, or something that has happened in the past.
New contributor
You are correct. It can mean both things depending on the context. The context will tell you if it is describing something that is scheduled for the future, or something that has happened in the past.
New contributor
New contributor
answered 5 hours ago
ValkorValkor
612
612
New contributor
New contributor
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