grammar · academic
the + adj + N + to V
A pattern combining an adjective with a noun and a to-infinitive to describe order/uniqueness/characteristic (e.g. the first student to arrive).
Examples
“She was the only applicant to meet all criteria.”
“He is the first person to comment on the idea.”
“This is the best time to study vocabulary.”
Band 8 sentence
“He was the only researcher to provide long‑term data for the study.”
Collocations
- the first student to arrive
- the only candidate to meet
Common mistakes
She was the first who arrived.→She was the first person to arrive.
He is the only to pass the exam.→He is the only student to pass the exam.
Say it for a higher band
5the first who + V→6the first who arrived→7+the + adj + N + to V
Easily confused
the + adj + N + to V vs the + adj + who/that + V
“She was the first player to score in the match.”
Related words
Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.
In Relative clauses
Learn it with its set