Will you come back to...,

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Silverobama

Key Member
Joined
Aug 8, 2010
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Chinese
Home Country
China
Current Location
China
Carol and I are friends and she went back to the US a few years ago. We're still in touch and we sent text messages to each other from time to time.

Silver - Will you come back to Chongqing again?
Carol - Probably not. I'm getting older and 78 this year.
Silver- Sorry to hear that. But I think you still look pretty young.


Is the conversation natural?
 
Carol and I are [still] friends and even though she went moved back to the US a few years ago. We're still in touch and we sent send text messages to each other from time to time.

Silver - Will you ever come back to Chongqing? again?
Carol - Probably not. I'm getting older and I'm 78! this year.
Silver - Sorry to hear that. But Wow! I think you still look pretty young.


Is the conversation natural?
See above.

In your opening sentence, make it clear that she moved back to the US permanently. Using "went back" could be taken to mean that she simply visited the US a few years ago. I added the potential "still", and "even though" because it adds context. It would add even more context if you gave us a bit more history, such as "Carol and I became friends in China [number] years ago and, even though she moved back to the US a few years ago, we're still friends."
In your second sentence, I'd say "we text each other", rather than the more convoluted "we send text messages to each other".

You don't need "come back" and "again". Saying "come back" makes it clear that something would be happening for at least the second time.

Carol's "I'm getting older and" isn't natural. Everyone's getting older. She might say "I think I'm too old to travel now" or something similar but simply stating her age is probably enough to get the message across.

Don't say "Sorry to hear that" when someone tells you their age! It's used when you hear someone else's bad news, such as the death of their relative or that they lost the job they loved.

A common phrase when you think someone looks younger than they've just told you they are is "You don't look it!", so you could say "78! Wow! You really don't look it."
 
It would add even more context if you gave us a bit more history,
Hello, emsr2d2. I'm confused why you don't say "it will add even more context if you give us a bit more history" in your sentence? The situation is now/real, not past. It should use present tense, shouldn't it?
 
I'm confused why you don't say "it will add even more context if you give us a bit more history" in your sentence? The situation is now/real, not past. It should use present tense, shouldn't it?

Try and remember what we've said every other time you've asked this same question.
 
Carol's "I'm getting older and" isn't natural. Everyone's getting older. She might say "I think I'm too old to travel now" or something similar but simply stating her age is probably enough to get the message across.

I have to disagree with the boldfaced part. It's pretty common in AmE, both as a serious observation and as self-deprecating humor.


A: Are you still playing those pickup basketball games?
Skrej: No, I quit those. I guess I'm getting older, but I no longer spring back up when I face-plant on the concrete like I used to.

A: How's your dad doing these days?
Skrej: Well, he's getting older and having a lot of problems getting around. He really need to give up and go ahead with the hip replacement he's been putting off too long.

Carol - Probably not. I'm getting older and 78 this year.
I do agree the second half of this isn't natural, though. I'd have phrased it as "I'm getting older and turning 78 this year."
 
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He's really need to
I wonder if this is a typo. Sorry, I usually write down all of your sentences in my notebook so I don't want to include any mistakes or I'll ask again here to waste your time.
 
I wonder if this is a typo. Sorry, I usually write down all of your sentences in my notebook so I don't want to include any mistakes or I'll ask again here to waste your time.
On behalf of Skrej, I'll happily confirm that it should say "He really needs to ...".
 
Yes, I've fixed the typo. I started one thought, then switched midway and didn't correct. I'm getting older and becoming more forgetful.
 
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