Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[Yukineko]

Hello teachers. Could you help me with the following sentences?

Which sentence is gramatically correct?

1. Who is the first person that ate curry and rice in Japan?
2. Who was the first person that ate curry and rice in Japan?
3. Who was the first person that had eaten curry and rice in Japan?

I think #3 is correct, but I suppose #1 can also be acceptable. Am I correct?

Thank you for your help.
Yukineko

[IanT]

2 is best, sorry!

3 doesn't seem right as there is no need for the past perfect "had eaten"

1 is more or less OK if the person in question is still alive.

Hope helps,
Ian

P.S. Personally, I would prefer "who" rather than "that", and my favourite version of the sentence would be:

4. Who was the first person to eat curry and rice in Japan?

But that's not what you asked!
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[Yukineko]

Hello, IanT.
Thank you for answering my question.
Now I understand how to use "the first..."
But I realized I have to study English harder!

Thank you for your detailed explanation.

Yukineko