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Understanding the difference between LIFE and LIVES and how to use them correctly.

 

The confusion between these two words comes from the heteronym lives. Remember heteronyms have different meanings and sounds, but they share the same spelling.

  • Lives primarily acts as a present-tense third-person singular verb.
  • Lifes is not a word.

Actually, the plural of life is not lifes but rather lives.

How to Use Lives in a Sentence

Lives definition: The word lives is a third-person singular verb; it is pronounced with a short i sound \lĭvz\. For the sake of having a broader application, we’ll define the word live instead.

Live \lĭv\ as an intransitive verb is very nuanced. It means to be alive; or to subsist; or to inhabit a home; or realize eternal life; or endure in human memory; or to have a rich life experience; or to cohabitate.

For example:

  • First responders live to serve and protect. (Present Tense Verb)
  • After upgrading, the family lives in a larger, two-story home. (Present Tense Verb)
  • Right after college, the couple lived together for several years. (Past Tense Verb)

Additionally, live \lĭv\ functions as a transitive verb, passing action to either a subject or to a direct object, and means to spend the duration of; or to practice; or to exhibit enthusiasm; or to experience firsthand.

For example:

  • The quarantined community lives their days sequestered from each other. (Present Tense Verb)
  • She lives out her life by serving others and offering kindness everywhere she goes. (Present Tense Verb)
  • In spite of setbacks, the injured athlete lives life fully. (Present Tense Verb)

Finally, the word live \līv\, pronounced with a long i, is an adjective, which means having life; or containing energy; or of a current interest; or broadcast at the time of production; or something that is in play.

For example:

  • As the beachcomber walked along the water’s edge, he came upon a live crab. (Adjective)
  • The newscast was live. (Adjective)
  • The linebacker did not realize that the dropped football was a live ball. (Adjective)

As you can see, the denotations of the word live, pronounced either \lĭv\ or \līv\, are many.

How to Use Lifes in a Sentence

Lifes definition: Because the plural of the word life is not lifes but rather lives, the noun life will be defined instead.

As a noun, life has many denotations: the distinguishing quality that reflects a vital, functional being; the physical and mental experiences that reflect the existence of an individual; the period from birth to death; a manner of living; duration of something; one providing interest or vigor; or something assigned animation.

For example:

  • Frankenstein’s creature was given life. (Noun)
  • My life is enriched by the deep and abiding friendships that had been cultivated over a lifetime. (Noun)
  • The dash on the gravestone reflected his life on earth. (Noun)

Furthermore, the word life functions as an adjective, meaning lifelong or relating to insurance.

For example:

  • Her life membership in the club ensured her consistent attendance. (Adjective)
  • He purchased a life insurance policy to cover expenses. (Adjective)

    Phrases That Use Lives

    Even though there aren’t any common phrases for the word lives, there are several phrases that use the word live or life, including:

    Live it up: To experience the moment fully engaged and reveling in it.

    • After finals week was over, the coeds were living it up.

    Live up to: To fulfill an expectation or meet a standard anticipated by someone else.

    • The younger son tried to live up to his mother’s expectation by following in his older brother’s footsteps.

    It’s a dog’s life: To live in a deplorable or miserable state. However, this term can be used to mean the opposite—that a dog has an easy life.

    • Lying on the sofa, eating at will, and using the dog door carte blanche meant the family pet had a dog’s life indeed.

    The good life: To have an existence that reflects the best that life has to offer with few concerns or worries.

    • After getting the job of her dreams, the woman experienced the good life for the first time.

    How to Remember These Words

    Because these two words, live and life share a heteronym of lives, you need to keep the meaning and the pronunciation clear in your mind.

    Lives, pronounced \lĭvz\, is the third person singular verb of live \lĭv\. The plural of the noun life is lives, pronounced \līvz\.

    For example:

    • He lives down the road.
    • Their lives were spared.

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