live

To live is to take up residence in a place. It’s a very common verb that’s used when asking or talking about a person’s life and location.

• Where do you live?
• How long have you lived there?
• Do you like living where you are? (The word "living" is a gerund in this question.)
• Who lives with you?
• How many other people live with you?
• Javier lives in Chicago.
• He lives alone in an apartment.
• He has lived there for over 15 years.
• He likes living there.
• Jessica lived in Texas for a few years.
• She lived with her family in a house.
• She didn’t live there for very long.
• She didn’t like living there.

Who lives here?

The verb "live" is also used to indicate that a person is not dead.

• How much longer do you think he will live?
• He has just another few months to live.
• My aunt is living with brain cancer.
• The doctor said that the patient would live.
• Are your grandparents still living?

A slightly different word with the same spelling is "live." Use "live" when something is happening now or in person.

• The game was televised live.
• The performers appeared before a live audience.
• That club features live entertainment nightly.

The word "life" is a noun. The plural form is "lives."

• She has lived a very long life.
• Peter has led an interesting life.
• Several lives were lost in the fire.
• Thousands of lives can be saved with this vaccine.

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October 11, 2015