the first person to be killed OR the first person killed?

[viola084]

He was the first person to be killed in the fire.
OR He was the first person killed in the fire?
I am an English teacher , and there is a grammatical rule: when a noun is modified by words like the first , the second, if you have to choose a non-predicative verb(to do, doing ,and done, for example) to modify it, you have to choose infinitive(to do) .However, I am confused when I tried to translate sentences above.Which is right?OR the rule just doesn't make any sense?
Any response will be appreciated.

[corum]

He was the first person to be killed in the fire.
He was the first person killed in the fire?

there is a grammatical rule: when a noun is modified by words like the first , the second, if you have to choose a non-predicative verb(to do, doing ,and done, for example) to modify it, you have to choose infinitive(to do).

Correct.

However, I am confused when I tried to translate sentences above.Which is right?

Both.

OR the rule just doesn't make any sense?

I do not understand why you have problem with that rule.

He was the first person [PRO to be killed in the fire].
"to be" is a predicative verb, a linking verb, a copula. In the bracketed non-finite clause above, it can be ellipted. Your rule refers to non-predicative verbs and the necessary resort to ellipsis, which do not concern us in the matter at hand. What is of issue here is the fact that, with a non-finite linking verb in the postmodifying adnominal clause, ellipsis is an option.

[viola084]

He was the first person to be killed in the fire.
He was the first person killed in the fire?



Correct.



Both.



I do not understand why you have problem with that rule.

He was the first person [PRO to be killed in the fire].
"to be" is a predicative verb, a linking verb, a copula. In the bracketed non-finite clause above, it can be ellipted. Your rule refers to non-predicative verbs and the necessary resort to ellipsis, which do not concern us in the matter at hand. What is of issue here is the fact that, with a non-finite linking verb in the postmodifying adnominal clause, ellipsis is an option.

Thanks a lot,corum.I have problems with this rule because we have to choose only one of the two expressions above in multiple-choice exam.That is why I am coufused.Now it seems clear to me, but I really have difficultu dealing with it in exams.