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Latest post Tue, Dec 25 2007 5:42 AM by Liveinjapan. 9 replies.
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Liveinjapan  +  451901 Tue, 11 Dec 07 07:15 AM

This is very nice meeting you.

Is it okay for you to keep in touch with me?

Is it okay to keep in touch with you?

Is it okay for me to keep in touch with you?

Do all carry the same meaning?
Which is the most natural?

Thanks
LiJ
Liveinjapan
Joined on Sun, Feb 4 2007
Osaka, Japan
Senior Member 2,280
Please feel free to correct any words I wrote.LiJ
Marius Hancu, 1 yr 347 days ago
I'd use 2 and 3. First one  is a bit impolite.
Related discussions
Vorpar, 1 yr 347 days ago
The first one should be worded differently, try: "Please keep in touch."
Liveinjapan, 1 yr 346 days ago

Thanks, Marius and Vorpar.

Got it. Smile [:)]

Avangi  +  452102 Tue, 11 Dec 07 04:23 PM

Hi,

I think the first makes no sense,  The second and third are both natural.  I think the third suggests a more personal commitment.

While keeping in touch seems to suggest a mutual effort it doesn't always mean that.  If you say, "Let's keep in touch, " it could mean "I'd like you to call me and I'd like you to say it's okay for me to call you."  But if you say, "Is it okay [for me] to keep in touch with you?" you're usually asking for permission to initiate the contact. If you want the person to call you, you'd probably say, "Please give me a call", unless you were afraid of being too forward, in which case "Let's keep in touch" would give either of you an out.  I'm really not sure what you'd like to say in the first example.  It sounds to me like, "Is it okay for you to call me?" which makes no sense.  Perhaps, "Would it be okay if we kept in touch?" would work.

I suspect cultural differences would be more important here than differences in language.  Opinions to the contrary are certainly in order.

Regards,  -A.

P.S.  Your post was listed as "unanswered."  When I replied,  two popped up from five hours ago.  Sorry.  I think "Please keep in touch" is great!
Avangi
Joined on Mon, Nov 19 2007
Veteran Member 8,172
". . . le plaisir delicieux et toujours nouveau d'une occupation inutile." - Henri de Regnier
Liveinjapan  +  452251 Wed, 12 Dec 07 12:59 AM
 Avangi wrote:

Hi,

I think the first makes no sense,  The second and third are both natural.  I think the third suggests a more personal commitment.

While keeping in touch seems to suggest a mutual effort it doesn't always mean that.  If you say, "Let's keep in touch, " it could mean "I'd like you to call me and I'd like you to say it's okay for me to call you."  But if you say, "Is it okay [for me] to keep in touch with you?" you're usually asking for permission to initiate the contact. If you want the person to call you, you'd probably say, "Please give me a call", unless you were afraid of being too forward, in which case "Let's keep in touch" would give either of you an out.  I'm really not sure what you'd like to say in the first example.  It sounds to me like, "Is it okay for you to call me?" which makes no sense.  Perhaps, "Would it be okay if we kept in touch?" would work.

I suspect cultural differences would be more important here than differences in language.  Opinions to the contrary are certainly in order.

Regards,  -A.

P.S.  Your post was listed as "unanswered."  When I replied,  two popped up from five hours ago.  Sorry.  I think "Please keep in touch" is great!

I can say it more naturally thanks to you, -A. Smile [:)]
Liveinjapan
Avangi  +  452325 Wed, 12 Dec 07 07:39 AM

 Marius Hancu wrote:
I'd use 2 and 3. First one  is a bit impolite.

After looking at Marius' post I realized how your first example could be used, "Is it okay for you to keep in touch with me?"

If someone had agreed to keep in touch, or was obligated to keep you informed about something and had failed to do so, you could be scolding him/her.  This would indeed be a bit sarcastic, rude, or impolite.

   -   A.
Avangi
Liveinjapan, 1 yr 346 days ago

I thought 1 was strange. That's why I posted it.Smile [:)] But now, it's clear thanks to all of you.Smile [:)]

ThanksSmile [:)]

Avangi  +  456837 Tue, 25 Dec 07 04:10 AM
 Liveinjapan wrote:

This is very nice meeting you.

Is it okay for you to keep in touch with me?

Is it okay to keep in touch with you?

Is it okay for me to keep in touch with you?

Do all carry the same meaning?
Which is the most natural?

Thanks
LiJ

Hi LiJ

Remember this one?  I just came across a piece of paper where I had written #1.  Now it doesn't seem so strange.  It could mean,  "Would you get in trouble if you kept in touch with me?"

  - A.
Avangi
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