Example sentences of "[not/n't] [vb infin] [prep] first " in BNC.
Next page| No | Sentence |
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| 1 | She did not answer at first but moved or turned . |
| 2 | erm In fact a simple formulation of this problem occurs in the opening paragraphs of À la Recherche , erm when the narrator writes this : ‘ When I woke in the middle of the night , I could not tell where I was , just as I did not know at first who I was . |
| 3 | When Belegar arrived he watched the Dwarfs rebuild their citadel but did not attack at first . |
| 4 | The plants lumped together under the umbrella name of herbs do not appear at first glance to be essential to maintain life , but it is now becoming apparent that this concept could be wrong , and that herbs are as necessary as oxygen , though the ingredients they contribute , such as minerals and vitamins , may only be found in minute quantities . |
| 5 | For instance , Hamlet 's relationship and subsequent behaviour towards Ophelia may not appear at first closely connected with Hamlet 's plan of murder . |
| 6 | Although data does not appear at first sight to be a resource of the organisation , it certainly is a resource , as data is essential for the organisation to operate effectively . |
| 7 | Deep trying if you do not succeed at first , and then they will eventually come out . |
| 8 | They set off , but the Friar did not understand at first whom they were following ; it was as though he believed that the children had taken his sack . |
| 9 | This will not work in first low , but there should be ample engine braking in this gear for steep descents unless one of the clutches in the gearbox is faulty . |
| 10 | The car occupants did not move at first , a rising condensation choked the dying ventilation , the inside of the windscreen visibly clouded to reveal nothing more than a general silhouette of the two figures in the front seat deliberating their actions . |
| 11 | Usually , the hard currency exchanged by foreign investors to pay wages , salaries and utility and other costs , has a significance in Second and Third World countries that it does not have in First World countries . |
| 12 | Buckingham did not realise at first that he had been the only one to get over the 23rd fence at the first attempt . |
| 13 | The day after the declaration , which did not seem at first to be being taken seriously in Washington , Gen Noriega 's troops escalated the crisis into a confrontation . |
| 14 | So deeply and dreamlessly that when she woke she could n't think at first where she was ; nor place the strange noise at the back of her head . |
| 15 | He did n't answer at first . |
| 16 | He did n't answer at first , then asked where we 'd be staying . |
| 17 | He did n't answer at first and there was something about the quality of his silence that caused a flicker of fear to touch her heart . |
| 18 | I look out into the darkness , but my eyes do n't focus at first , as they are so fresh from sleep . |
| 19 | He is very clever in the manner in which he links all the characters together , and although we do n't know at first how relationships and meetings will turn out , it does soon become apparent . |
| 20 | When he returned to the office on Monday Barnett called Tim into the office , an odd note in his voice which Tim did n't recognise at first . |
| 21 | Do n't cheat by first allowing your body to droop and then jerking your backside into the air . |
| 22 | It does n't matter that the guitar was second-hand ; the law talks about contracts for the sale of goods , and does n't refer to first , second , third or even fourth hand . |
| 23 | It did n't work at first because people forgot and then there were the tourists who came in and did n't know the seating arrangements . |
| 24 | He did n't mind at first but when he kept bumping into sculptures of boats , animals or castles he became more and more frustrated . |
| 25 | ‘ Oh , its been a strain — I did n't mind at first because she 'd stay down at her flat for short periods of time , but obviously as her memory 's got worse she does n't realise that she 's got a flat , and the only thing she knows is in here , and this is the only place she wants to be — here . |
| 26 | So beautiful I did n't mind at first |
| 27 | The children did n't understand at first , but when it was later explained to them , they were enormously proud that she should have singled them out for a visit . |
| 28 | He did n't understand at first . |
| 29 | And told me of the fraternising between British and German troops on Christmas day in the trenches , and I could n't understand at first how you could shoot at someone all week , then make friends with them for one day , knowing you would try and kill each other again the next . |
| 30 | I did n't understand at first . |