The first come

Hanifasmm · #1 (permalink) Wed Dec 30, 2009 18:36 pm *The first come*

Hi everybody,
1. The first come will be first served.
Is the 1st 'first' adjective and the 2nd 'first' adverb?
Am I not right?
Thanks,
Er.S.M.M.Hanifa

Jamie (K) · #2 (permalink) Wed Dec 30, 2009 19:02 pm *The first come*

In the expression "first come, first served", the word "first" is an adjective in both places. It's just that the noun has been deleted.

It means, "The first person to come will be the first person to be served."

Hanifasmm · #3 (permalink) Thu Dec 31, 2009 3:06 am *The first come*

Mr. Jamie (K),
I agree that if you expand the sentence as you indicated,
all are adjectives only.
But as such the sentence - "The first come will be first served."
without expanding, some say the word "first" in both places
are used as adverbs.
Is their argument wrong?
Thanks,
Er.S.M.M.Hanifa

Jamie (K) · #4 (permalink) Thu Dec 31, 2009 3:11 am *The first come*

Their argument is not wrong if the sentence is put that way. The trouble is that we would never use the sentence that way.

Richar · #5 (permalink) Thu Dec 31, 2009 7:18 am *The first come*

nice post

	ESL Forums \| English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms	All times are GMT + 1 Hour
Page 1 of 1