correct choice of words

**Tan Elaine** · 27-Jul-2011, 05:58

We were/are born as human beings; we have to design our lives so that we can enjoy our lives. If you/we find difficulty in smiling that means you/we are not enjoying your life.

1. I believe in sentence 1 'were' is correct. Am I?

2. Is 'design; the correct word to use?

3. Is it OK to repeat 'our lives'?

3, Is it OK for me to switch to 'you' in the last two choices? I think it is fine since I want to emphasise that you are the person I am addressing to.

Many thanks.

**Tan Elaine** · 27-Jul-2011, 11:48

Could someone please help? Many thanks.

**5jj** · 27-Jul-2011, 12:37

My opinion:

Originally Posted by Tan Elaine

We were/are born as human beings; we have to design our lives so that we can enjoy our lives. If you/we find difficulty in smiling that means you/we are not enjoying your life.

1. I believe in sentence 1 'were' is correct. Am I? Either would work here.

2. Is 'design; the correct word to use? I'd use 'shape', but 'design is fine'.

3. Is it OK to repeat 'our lives'? It reads more naturally with the pronoun 'them'.

3, Is it OK for me to switch to 'you' in the last two choices? I think it is fine since I want to emphasise that you are the person I am addressing to. If that's what you want to say, then it's fine.

**SoothingDave** · 27-Jul-2011, 13:20

Or "order our lives."

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