The English language can often appear confusing at times. There are several words in the English language which often appear to be synonymous.
However, in reality, they have sharp differences in several aspects. Life and live are two such words that vary on several grounds, but may be confused to convey the same meaning.
Life vs Live
The difference between life and live is that life distinguishes the living and non living from one another. On the other hand, live refers to being alive. The word life originates from the German word leib meaning body. On the other hand, the word live originates from the German word leben meaning live.
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Life is a phenomenon that separates animate objects from inanimate objects. For example, Rafael was a musician for his entire working life.
Another commonplace meaning of the word life is to refer to one or more aspects of the process of living such as the study/work life of an individual. Some of the phrases using the word life include the elixir of life and life sciences.
Live is a verb that refers to the process of being alive. For instance, I wonder what it was like to live in the 177th century. Another commonplace meaning of live is to refer to the residential address of an individual.
For instance, Johanna lives in an apartment on 47th Millbury Street.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Life | Live |
|---|---|---|
| Type | The word life is a noun. | The word live is both a verb and an adjective. |
| Frequency | Statistically, the word life is used more frequently than the word live. | Statistically, the word live is used less occasionally than the word life. |
| Meaning | The word life connotes the period between birth and death. | The word live connotes the process of staying alive. |
| Origin | The word life originates from the German word leib meaning body. | The word live originates from the German word leben meaning live. |
| Example | The life circumstances of every individual are subject to variations. | Haven lives in a rental apartment in Texas. |
What is Life?
By definition, life refers to the ability to grow or change that differentiates plants and animals from rocks and minerals. Thus, life is a phenomenon that separates animate objects from inanimate objects.
For example is Natalia believes that God gives life to all its creatures. Some phrases that use life include the miracle of life and everlasting life. In addition, life may also refer to the period when a person is alive.
The word life is a noun that often connotes the state of being alive. For example, Michael believes in living life to the fullest. Ideally, life is a word that distinguishes a vital and functional being from a dead body.
It may also refer to one or more aspects of the process of living.
The plural form of life is lives. Symbolically, life refers to vitality, vigor, and energy. For instance, the phrase full of life is often used to refer to an individual who is energetic.
Life may also be used to refer to animation or spirit. For instance, Raven’s drama performance and her expressions during the play were full of life.
There are several other less known meanings of life. For instance, it may be used to refer to the period of duration, usefulness, and popularity of something.
For example, the shelf life of vegetables and fruits. To conclude, there are several elaborate meanings of the word life.
What is Live?
Live is a verb that refers to the process of being alive. In other words, to be alive connotes the life of a plant or an animal. For example, Shakespeare was one of the greatest writers who lived on planet Earth.
Another meaning of live is to specify the residential address of an individual. For example, I live on 46th Street, Marshall Avenue.
The past tense of the word live is lived. Live usually connote the residence in a home. For instance, Joe lives in a shaggy house.
The phrase live by may also be used to refer to the ideals or beliefs of a person. For example, some people live by the principle of helping others.
In a symbolic sense, the word live may conceptualize to mean a life rich in experience. For example, an individual who possesses ready wit and has a quick mind lives more in a day than an individual with a dull mind lives in a month.
The word live also serves as an adjective. In this sense, it refers to having life. For example, a live lobster.
Another common meaning of live is to connote the broadcast of an event at the time of occurrence. For instance, the Iraq invasion was an event that was telecasted live on TV channels.
Another example is the cricket match between India and New Zealand was broadcasted live for the audiences to enjoy. Thus, the word live has multi-facet meanings.
Main Differences Between Life and Live
- Statistically, the word life is used more frequently than the word live.
- While life is a noun, live is both an adjective and a verb.
- The word life originates from the German word leib meaning body. On the other hand, the word live originates from the German word leben meaning live.
- The word life refers to the period when a person is alive. In contrast, the word live connotes the process of staying alive.
- An example of life in a sentence is some people believe that the life of every individual is in the hands of God. In contrast, an example of live in a sentence is that Jacobs’ bad deeds caused him to live a life of misery.
- https://prowritingaid.com/grammar/1000245/Live-vs-life%E2%80%94what-is-the-difference#:~:text=Life%20means%20the%20state%20that,having%20life%3B%20that%20is%20alive.
- https://pediaa.com/difference-between-life-and-live/
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Emma Smith holds an MA degree in English from Irvine Valley College. She has been a Journalist since 2002, writing articles on the English language, Sports, and Law. Read more about me on her bio page.
