[Grammar] He was the one who sparked my interest in computers.

[newkeenlearner]

Are these four sentences equivalent and do them have the same meanings?

1. He was the one who sparked my interest in computers.
2. He was the one who first sparked my interest in computers.
3. He was the first one to spark my interest in computers.
4. He was the one to spark my interest in computers.

 

[Rover_KE]

[STRIKE]them[/STRIKE] they

Including 'first' adds emphasis.

 

[newkeenlearner]

[STRIKE]them[/STRIKE]they

Sorry!

Including 'first' adds emphasis.

All of them are correct and do they have the same meanings?

 

[Rover_KE]

Sorry!

[STRIKE]All[/STRIKE] Are all of them [STRIKE]are[/STRIKE] correct and do they have the same meaning?

No. Again: Writing 'first' adds emphasis.

 

[newkeenlearner]

I have studied about this kind of grammar "The TO-infinitive to replace a relative clause" for days. I am not sure if I am CORRECT. Could you please check my analysis?


1)He was the first/only one to spark my interest in computers. -> This means no one else sparked my interest in computers before. That person was the first one.

2)He was the one who sparked my interest in computers. -> as well as some people around me, he also had a role in sparking my interest in computers.


3)He was the one who first sparked my interest in computers. -> No one else before that person sparked my interest in computers. He was the first person.

4)He was the one to spark my interest in computers. -> as well as some people around me, he also had a role in sparking my interest in computers.

I think #1&3 and #2&4 are equivalent.

 

[Tarheel]

Are these four sentences equivalent and do they mean the same thing?

1. He was the one who sparked my interest in computers.
2. He was the one who first sparked my interest in computers.
3. He was the first one to spark my interest in computers.
4. He was the one to spark my interest in computers.

In the sentences in which you use "first" you suggest there were others involved. (If there's a first there has to be a second.)