About "He will be/come back" etc...

hirashin

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8 Apr 2004

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• 4 Feb 2020

• #1

Dear native English speakers,
I have a question.

Which one is used by native speakers?
(a1) Will he be back soon?
(a2) Will he soon be back?

(b1) Will he come back soon?
(b2) Will he soon come back?

(c1) Will he come back home soon?
(c2) Will he soon come back home?

(d1) Will he get back soon?
(d2) Will he soon get back?

(e1) Will he get home soon?
(e2) Will he soon get home?

(f1) Will he get back home soon?
(f2) Will he soon get back home?

Hirashin

 

Last edited: 4 Feb 2020

S

SomeCallMeChris

先輩

Ten-year veteran

5 May 2013

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• 4 Feb 2020

• #2

I would use all of the "1" sentences and none of the "2" sentences, as an American.

The "2" sentences don't sound unnatural though, just not current and local.
A bit old-fashioned and/or upper-class maybe. I think some of my grandmother's friends used the "2" ordering, but that was decades ago.

 

hirashin

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8 Apr 2004

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• 4 Feb 2020

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• #3

That's a very interesting comment, Chris. Thank you for the help.

I'd like to hear other members' comments too.

 

cang

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12 Feb 2020

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• 12 Feb 2020

• #4

1 sentences seems to put more emphasis on 'soon'. Personally, I use and also hear sentence 1 in casual everyday conversations.

 

J

johnnyG

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• 12 Feb 2020

• #5

 

hirashin

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• 22 Feb 2020

• Thread starter
• #6

johnnyG, thanks for the input. But they say "I'll be back again", not "I'll be back soon". I don't think you can say "I'll again be back." Am I right?

 

J

johnnyG

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• 23 Feb 2020

• #7

@hirashin Yes, you're right. I was just adding that as an example of how this can appear in popular culture.

(of a past generation!)