[General] happened to have met

[contiluo]

The sentences seem to be awkward. Please help me correct them. Thanks!

1. After Tom asked him some questions, he knew that it was the foreigner's first time coming to Taiwan, and he had intended to visit Taipei 101.
2. After Tom asked him some questions, he knew that this was the first time the foreigner coming to Taiwan, and he had wanted to visit Taipei 101.
3. Although Tom and the foreigner happened to have met each other, they still keep in touch after the encounter.

 

[TheParser]

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

"After Tom asked some questions, he realized that the purpose of the man's first trip to Taiwan was to visit the capital's famous landmark Taipei 101."


NOTE: It might be a good idea not to use the word "foreigner." A more neutral word (such as "man") might be more courteous.

 

[contiluo]

Is #3 correct?

 

[MikeNewYork]

It doesn't mean very much.

 

[Matthew Wai]

Is #3 correct?

Is the following your intended meaning?
'Although Tom and the foreigner met for the first time by sheer coincidence, they still keep in touch after the encounter.'

 

[emsr2d2]

The first half of your suggestion is OK, Matthew, but there's no reason for "after the encounter".

 

[Matthew Wai]

there's no reason for "after the encounter".

I copied it from the OP's sentence. Could 'afterward' be used instead?

 

[Raymott]

I copied it from the OP's sentence. Could 'afterward' be used instead?

There's no point. If two people meet, and then keep in touch, it can't possibly be at any other time than "after the encounter". That's what ems is saying, I think.

 

[Tdol]

I copied it from the OP's sentence. Could 'afterward' be used instead?

It's redundant, but there's plenty of redundancy kicking around. It's not wrong.

 

[contiluo]

Is it better by changing #3 as follows?

After that, they still keep in touch with each other.

 

[Tdol]

Not really. How about something like this:

They met by chance and still keep in touch.

 

[Matthew Wai]

As the OP wants to use 'after' and 'encounter', I suggest 'They keep in touch after a chance encounter'.