Words can be tricky. Take live for example.  It is a verb, adjective, and adverb.  When it is used as an adjective its pronunciation and definition is very close to alive.

The trick to knowing when to use live and when to use alive is in knowing that alive is only an adjective and is used with be verbs or after a noun:

            They burned her alive.   

Francesca is the happiest person alive.

Richard has eyes alive with mischief.

Live, when being used as an adjective (a live wire), comes before a noun:

 Shara was holding a live canary. 

A live volcano might erupt without warning.

Benny is a real live saber tooth tiger.

                                   Definitions

Alive (adj) Having the quality of life; living.

Live (adj) Being alive.

Definitions are adapted from Dictionary.com.

Along with our website, GrammarDoctor.com offers a grammar tip each month, covering topics such as misspelled, misused, and mispronounced words.  Each tip is the result of a grammar mistake in some publication and makes for an interesting read as well as an educational one.

Test your skill by choosing the right word in each sentence.

1. According to the monitors, that nerve is very (alive/live).

2. The (alive/live) broadcast was the liveliest one we’re ever had.

3. He hoped that it wasn’t a (alive/live) wire, but he was sadly mistaken.

4. Don’t let hope die; keep it (alive/live).

Answers
1. According to the monitors, that nerve is very alive.

2. That live broadcast was the liveliest one we’re ever had.

3. He hoped that it wasn’t a live wire, but he was sadly mistaken.

4. Don’t let hope die; keep it alive.

Grammatically Correct is a grammar tip of the week created by Academic Center Peer Writing Tutors at the University of Houston-Victoria in Victoria, Texas.

Comments about this newsletter should be directed to Summer Leibensperger, leibenspergers@uhv.edu.

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