How to say it naturally

[optimistic pessimist]

Dear all,

Tokyo has greatly changed in many ways in the past 20 years.
I like the old Tokyo I saw 20 years ago very much. I really miss it.

...In order to express such a feeling, I've made up a couple of sentences.

1. I like what Tokyo was 20 years ago.

2. I like the way Tokyo was 20 years ago.

3. I like the Tokyo of 20 years ago.

Of the three above, which do you think sounds natural and which doesn't? My guess is that #3 may sound odd, but #1 and #2 are fine, hopehully.

Thank you!

OP

[Rover_KE]

2 and 3 are better than 1 in my opinion.

Note that a better thread title would have been Tokyo has greatly changed in many ways in the past 20 years.

Rover

[TheParser]

Dear all,

Tokyo has greatly changed in many ways in the past 20 years.
I like the old Tokyo I saw 20 years ago very much. I really miss it.

...In order to express such a feeling, I've made up a couple of sentences.

1. I like what Tokyo was 20 years ago.

2. I like the way Tokyo was 20 years ago.

3. I like the Tokyo of 20 years ago.

Of the three above, which do you think sounds natural and which doesn't? My guess is that #3 may sound odd, but #1 and #2 are fine, hopehully.

Thank you!

OP

***** NOT A TEACHER *****


(1) I like No. 3 the most. I find that the definite article gives it a charming

ring.

(a) In fact, you might be more specific:

I like the Tokyo of the 1980s.

(b) Or change the verb:

I miss the Tokyo of the 1980s.

P.S. I suspect that many people are thinking:

OP is a very fortunate person. Although Tokyo may have changed during the last

20 years, there still is almost no street crime; the people are still incredibly

courteous and self-disciplined; and it is still a basically homogeneous society.

I cannot think of any other large city in the world that has these three qualities.

[optimistic pessimist]

Dear Rover_KE; TheParser

Thanks for your replies.

Rover_KE, I'll be more careful about giving an appropriate title to my thread.

The Parser, as you wrote, Tokyo has some good characteristics compared to big cities in other countries. What I'm worried about it is the extremely hot weather! I'm worried the whole city might melt into liquid because of the heat.

OP