SN4 ""

No	Pattern	Freq
1	[was/were] the first [noun sg] [prep]	451
2	was the first [noun sg] [prep]	437
3	[was/were] the first [noun sg] of	163
4	[was/were] the first [noun sg] in	131
5	[was/were] the first time [prep]	50
6	[was/were] the first [noun sg] to	44
7	[was/were] the first [noun sg] on	30
8	[was/were] the first step [prep]	21
9	[was/were] the first [noun sg] for	18
10	[was/were] the first occasion [prep]	17
11	were the first [noun sg] [prep]	14
12	[was/were] the first visit [prep]	12
13	[was/were] the first [noun sg] from	11
14	[was/were] the first person [prep]	10
15	[was/were] the first [noun sg] since	9
16	[was/were] the first case [prep]	9
17	[was/were] the first [noun sg] by	9
18	[was/were] the first [noun sg] towards	8
19	[was/were] the first woman [prep]	8
20	[was/were] the first day [prep]	8
21	[was/were] the first member [prep]	8
22	[was/were] the first [noun sg] at	7
23	[was/were] the first man [prep]	6
24	[was/were] the first part [prep]	6
25	[was/were] the first sign [prep]	5
26	[was/were] the first example [prep]	5
27	[was/were] the first stage [prep]	5
28	[was/were] the first church [prep]	5