[General] If you can't make it tonight....

[Silverobama]

I texted a friend who told me she would attend my English club tonight and said the following:

If you can't make it tonight, let me know beforehand.

She told me she would come and join us last week but she didn't show up. Is the italic sentence natural?

 

[teechar]

Yes, it's natural. You might want to add "please" before "let".

 

[Silverobama]

Yes, it's natural. You might want to add "please" before "let".

I believe that some native speakers would strike "beforehand" out. Do you think that would be better?

 

[teechar]

It's up to you whether to use "beforehand" or not. If you leave it out, the sentence might suggest that the response is required more urgently (now).

 

[emsr2d2]

If you want to make sure she knows that she must let you know before the meeting starts, I'd use either "beforehand" or "in advance". Omitting it leaves open the possibility that she can let you know at any time, including after the meeting starts.