Are these sentences natural? November 1

[musicgold]

Hi,

Are the following sentences natural to a native ear?

1. Is it okay to be dressed down at a college committee meeting?

2. Under which line item is it shown on the monthly statement?

3. She is not at her desk right now. Would/ will it be fine with you if I ask/asked her to call you back?

Thanks,
MG.

[emsr2d2]

Hi,

Are the following sentences natural to a native ear?

1. Is it okay to be dressed down at a college committee meeting?
Is it OK to dress down at a college committee meeting?
Is it OK to be informally dressed at a college committe meeting?

2. Under which line item is it shown on the monthly statement?
That sounds OK but I don't know what the context is or if there is a particular usage attached to a particular industry.

3. She is not at her desk right now. Would/ will it be fine with you if I ask/asked her to call you back?
She is not at her desk right now. Would it be OK with you if I ask/asked (both are used) her to call you back?
She is not at her desk right now. Shall I ask her to call you back?
She is not at her desk right now. Would you like me to ask her to call you back?

Thanks,
MG.

My comments are above in red.

[musicgold]

Thanks emsr2d2.

2. Under which line item is it shown on the monthly statement?
That sounds OK but I don't know what the context is or if there is a particular usage attached to a particular industry.

I was talking with my phone company about a charge they billed me. I wanted to know where they show the charge on my bill.

3. She is not at her desk right now. Would/ will it be fine with you if I ask/asked her to call you back?
She is not at her desk right now. Would it be OK with you if I ask/asked (both are used) her to call you back?

I thought that with "would it be OK with you if I asked her..." would make it sound like a type 2 conditional (unreal condition).

[emsr2d2]

Thanks emsr2d2.


I was talking with my phone company about a charge they billed me. I wanted to know where they show the charge on my bill.

Then "Where is that charge shown on my monthly bill?" would suffice.

I thought that with "would it be OK with you if I asked her..." would make it sound like a type 2 conditional (unreal condition).

It may well do but I can assure you that when English native speakers are speaking, they're not thinking "Oh, do I need a type 2 conditional here or not?" A lot of the time we say what feels natural as long as it's understood and in this instance, you will hear both used and no-one would be confused as to what they meant.

See above.

[musicgold]

Thanks emsr2d2.