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Seagull Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
return to his country
If someone is scheduled to leave a faraway country for his home country, and you want to know when he will begin the journey, what would you say?
I've come up with several answers. Please tell me which is right one and which is not.
(A) I'd like to know when Kevin will leave for his country.
(B) I'd like to know when Kevin will go back to his country.
(C) I'd like to know when Kevin will return to his country.
(D) I'd like to know when Kevin will come to his country.
I've come up with several answers. Please tell me which is right one and which is not.
(A) I'd like to know when Kevin will leave for his country.
(B) I'd like to know when Kevin will go back to his country.
(C) I'd like to know when Kevin will return to his country.
(D) I'd like to know when Kevin will come to his country.
Top answer
seagull (A) I'd like to know when Kevin will leave for his country. (B) I'd like to know when Kevin will go back to his country. (C) I'd like to know when Kevin will return to his country.
- seagull (A) I'd like to know when Kevin will leave for his country.
- (B) I'd like to know when Kevin will go back to his country.
- (C) I'd like to know when Kevin will return to his country.
- Those 3 are fine, though I don't think a native speaker would say 'country'; we'd just say 'leave for home', go back home', or 'return home'.
- seagull (D) I'd like to know when Kevin will come to his country.
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12 Answers
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seagull(A) I'd like to know when Kevin will leave for his country. (B) I'd like to know when Kevin will go back to his country. (C) I'd like to know when Kevin will return to his country.Those 3 are fine, though I don't think a native speaker would say 'country'; we'd just say 'leave for home', go back home', or 'return home'.
seagull(
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seagull(B) I'd like to know when Kevin will go back to his country. (C) I'd like to know when Kevin will return to his country.It seems to suggests that the speaker means when Kevin will permanently return to his home country.
seagull(A) I'd like to know when Kevin will leave for his country.It seems to suggest that the s
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vsureshIt seems to suggests that the speaker means when Kevin will permanently return to his home country....It seems to suggest that the speaker is interested to know when Kevin, who had probably gone there on holiday or on official work, will depart from that country.I don't see those differences, Suresh.
vsureshIt seems to suggest t
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Mister MicawberI don't see those differences, Suresh.I understand. Thank you,sir. I think I have read a little too much into it.
Mister MicawberThen it would read 'my country', not 'his country'.I think my sentence is ambiguous about who the last his refers to.
"It seems to suggest the speaker is
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vsureshI think my sentence is ambiguous about who the last his refers to.If all the sentences refer to Kevin's country, and the speaker is not in Kevin's country, then the speaker cannot use 'come' for Kevin's return to Kevin's country.
Are you saying something else, Suresh?
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Mister MicawberIf all the sentences refer to Kevin's country, and the speaker is not in Kevin's country, then the speaker cannot use 'come' for Kevin's return to Kevin's country.I understand. Interesting.
I thought that, if the speaker had said so, it is possible he could be anywhere other than where Kevin was then. Now I understand that he should be
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Thank you so much indeed, Vsuresh.
I've learned a lot from your comments.
I've learned a lot from your comments.
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Thank you very much, Mister Micawber.
May I ask a couple of additional questions? If Kevin was in a remote country and it would take some time to reach his home country, what kind of expression would be the best to ask when he will begin the journey? Also, if the situation were like I mentioned above, which of four sentences of mine would work well to ask when he will start?
May I ask a couple of additional questions? If Kevin was in a remote country and it would take some time to reach his home country, what kind of expression would be the best to ask when he will begin the journey? Also, if the situation were like I mentioned above, which of four sentences of mine would work well to ask when he will start?
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seagullIf Kevin was in a remote country and it would take some time to reach his home country, what kind of expression would be the best to ask when he will begin the journey?I don't think distance is relevant.
seagullwhich of four sentences of mine would work well to ask when he will start?A, B and C are all fine and comm
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I understand.
Thank you very much indeed. I'm sorry to have taken so long to reply to your first answer. I really appreciate your kindness.
Please allow me to ask a further question. If someone said "I'd like to know when Kevin will return to his country," what would you make of it? Do you think the speaker wants to know the date of Kevin's departure or of his arrival?
Thank you very much indeed. I'm sorry to have taken so long to reply to your first answer. I really appreciate your kindness.
Please allow me to ask a further question. If someone said "I'd like to know when Kevin will return to his country," what would you make of it? Do you think the speaker wants to know the date of Kevin's departure or of his arrival?
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