but I don't think I will be back

[navi tasan]

Is this sentence correct:
1) I am going there for a short meeting, but I don't think I will be back before three hours.

The idea is that the meeting is short, or is supposed to be short, and yet, I won't be back before three hours. I have a bit of doubt about the 'but'.

Gratefully,
Navi.

 

[MikeNewYork]

"But" works fine there.

 

[Tdol]

Before three hours sounds odd to me. How about something like in less than?

 

[navi tasan]

Thank you both very much.I think Tdol is right. I messed up. Maybe 'before three hours have gone by' would work as well, but that is cumbersome. 'Less than' is the best choice.Gratefully,Navi.

 

[Shad]

Before three hours sounds odd to me. How about something like in less than?

If I replace 'How' by "What' in the above sentence, it seems more correct to me. Am i right?

 

[tzfujimino]

You can use both "what about..." and "how about..." when making a suggestion.

 

[emsr2d2]

Thank you both very much.I think Tdol is right. I messed up. Maybe 'before three hours have gone by' would work as well, but that is cumbersome. 'Less than' is the best choice.Gratefully,Navi.

Note that the suggestion was "in less than" to replace "before".

 

[Tdol]

If I replace 'How' by "What' in the above sentence, it seems more correct to me. Am i right?

No- it is as correct. :up: