Learn English – live VS. living

vocabulary

Can you think of any situation where the following could be used interchangeably or vice versa?

live

living

Any help would be greatly appreciated

Best Answer

I agree with Khan's answer.

"Living" has a noun meaning; "live" does not. For example, "You can earn a living as a translator" is valid; "earn a live as a translator" is nonsense.

The sound of the "i" changes between "live" (the adjective) and "live" (the verb). "Living" sounds like the verb. "Live" (the adjective) rhymes with "hive", "jive", and "thrive"; "live" (the verb) sounds like the first syllable of "liver", or the middle syllable of "deliver". "Living" rhymes with "giving" and "shivving", but not with "hiving", "jiving", nor "thriving".

Some examples where "live" and "living"'s adjectival meanings are more-or-less interchangeable:

  • She gave me a live plant.
  • She gave me a living plant.

  • Is it alive?

  • Is it living?
  • on the other hand, "Is it live?" means "Is it happening now?", not "Is it alive?"

  • Live or dead

  • Alive or dead (but "dead or alive" is more common)
  • Living or dead
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