English is now the "first" language of the world in that it is most often used between people of different languages to conduct business and communicate in general. Before, in the 1800's, it was French and before that it was Latin. As far as being the first in terms of history, it obviously isn't. The English that we use today dates from about 1400 on. You may hear the term "old English". People think that this English as Shakespeare spoke it, but that is wrong. Old English refers to the language spoken in England before the French invaded in 1066AD. You wouldn't recognize it as English at all. In fact, it was much closer to German, if anything.

yes now days English is a Universal Language.

Was English the first language in the world? or Did English became the first language in the world? I don't think so. We had latin and much older languages before English.

yes of course, already i guess