win first place

[jasonlulu_2000]

Lucy won ___ first place in the speech competition.

A. / B. the


I know A is more common. But is answer B absolutely wrong in this case?

Thanks!

Jason

 

[probus]

If you substitute prize for place you have a sentence that all English speakers would understand and consider correct, whether the definite article is used or not.

I you insist on "place", I think "Lucy won first place in the speech competition" would sound fine and always be used in AmE.

I have heard "won the first place" in Indian English, and considered it dialect.

But I can't answer for the case of BrE.

 

[Rover_KE]

If you substitute prize for place you have a sentence that all English speakers would understand and consider correct, whether the definite article is used or not.

I you insist on "place", I think "Lucy won first place in the speech competition" would sound fine and always be used in AmE.

I have heard "won the first place" in Indian English, and considered it dialect.

But I can't answer for the case of BrE.

That goes for BrE speakers, too.

Rover