[masaegu]

Originally Posted by StonerPenguin

Waaah O: You're so right about verb tenses! So is there ever time where it's right use 送った? What's the difference between 送った and 送ってる here?

You can use 送った if you are writing a story, essay or compo but not in a casual email to a friend. This is what I meant when I said "Use almost no dictionary forms for sentence endings." in my previous post. 「送った」 at the end of the sentence gives absolutely no character or life to your writing.

送った = sent
送ってる　＝　送っている ＝　既に送っている　= have already sent

I've met many learners who seem to have been taught that 送っている means "to be in the middle of sending" = present progressive, but that is simply not true. The action of sending has already been performed, which is clear from my use of the word もう.

Rather than write a bunch of questions, here's the message I'm attempting to send;
"Good evening Emiko, you doing alright? Sorry I've been so slow. Though I already sent a message to Mao at her SoftBank account thanking you guys for talking to me in Japanese and asking how much longer you guys are gonna be in Alabama and stuff. When are you guys going to Atlanta? Later~"

「詠美子さん、こんばんは。　お元気？　とても遅くて すみません。　＞＜　でも、私と日本語で話してくれて ありがとうってとか、どのくらいアラバマに滞在するか って、真央さんのSoftBankのアドレスにもう送ってるんだ� ��ど。　いつアトランタに行くの？　ではでは～」

I know that 「とか」 is out of place but it's the only way I can think of to say "and stuff" (I mean, imply that I said more than just the stuff I directly mentioned here in the message I sent Mao earlier)

とても遅くて すみません　＞＞　（すごく）遅くなってごめんね

とても used in an informal context sounds formal and the same goes for すみません. It isn't something college-age girls say to each other unless someone has done something really bad.

Brush up on the use of the magic verb なる.

ありがとうってとか　＞＞　ありがとうとか
滞在するか って　＞＞　滞在するのかって. Sounds mean without the の.
When you name two or more specific examples, it actually sounds better if you used とか's all the way. >>> 滞在するのかとか