A few sentences

Question

Need help with a few sentences:1.  That's why they made it into a movie.  OrThat was why they made it into a movie.2.  Parties are happening but it'll be even better if you guys were here.  OrParties are happening but it'll be even better if you guys are here. 3.  Many consider Japan a very repressed society.  OrMany consider Japan a very suppressed society.

Mr Wordy · Accepted Answer

1. Both are possible. I guess they mean about the same, but "was" can tend to distance the making of the movie.

2. I prefer:

"... but it'd (= it would) be even better if you guys were here."

"... but it'll (= it will) be even better when you guys are here."

The second assumes that those guys will actually turn up; the first is more hypothetical. I don't quite understand what you mean by "Parties are happening". This sounds as if you are talking in an abstract way about parties that you have no involvement in. Do you mean something like "The party's started, but ..."

3. "repressed" seems a better fit to me.

PreciousJones · Answer

Mr Wordy1. Both are possible. I guess they mean about the same, but "was" can tend to distance the making of the movie.

1. What if the movie was made a while ago? Then it should be made...right?

Mr WordyThe second assumes that those guys will actually turn up; the first is more hypothetical. I don't quite understand what you mean by "Parties are happening". This sounds as if you are talking in an abstract way about parties that you have no involvement in. Do you mean something like "The party's started, but ..."

2. Happening like something's very lively, excited, fun! It's kinda slang...I guess.
I'm trying to say that I'm at a party but it'd be better if my friends were here. How should I imply that?

Mr Wordy · Answer

PreciousJonesWhat if the movie was made a while ago? Then it should be made...right?

Both your sentences use "made". Did you possibly mean "Then it should be was"?

PreciousJones2. Happening like something's very lively, excited, fun! It's kinda slang...I guess.

Do people still use "happening" in that way? I thought it was old-fashioned slang. But, hey, what do I know. In any case, in "Parties are happening" it's not clear that "happening" doesn't just mean "taking place". Even when one does know the intended meaning of "happening", it still seems as if you are talking in an abstract way about parties in general.

PreciousJonesI'm trying to say that I'm at a party but it'd be better if my friends were here. How should I imply that?

I think you just did it. "I'm at a party but it'd be better if my friends were here" sounds fine to me. But if you want something similar to your original, you can say "It's a happening party, but it would be even better if you guys were here." If you put it this way round -- "It's a happening party" -- then the intended meaning of "happening" is clear.

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