What is the past tense of "live"?

The past simple of "live" is "lived". I live in a small apartment near the city center.

What is the past participle of "live"?

The past participle of "live" is "lived". Use it after have/has/had: "I have lived".

What is a common mistake with "live"?

Wrong: "She live in Paris for five years.". Correct: "She has lived in Paris for five years.". Present perfect 'has lived' is required for duration starting in the past and continuing now. Use 'has' with 'lived'.

Conjugation of "Live" — All Forms, Examples, and Usage

Q: Is "live" regular or irregular?

"Live" is a regular English verb. Both past simple and past participle are formed by adding -ed.

Q: How do you pronounce "live"?

/lɪv/ — Rhymes with 'give', not 'alive': /lɪv/ with short 'i' sound. Do not pronounce like 'alive' /laɪv/.

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All 12 Tenses of "Live"

Quick reference table — every tense form of "live" with the first-person example and a link to the grammar guide for that tense.

Tense	Example (I)	Quick rule
Simple Present	`I live`	Used for habits, facts, routines, and permanent situations. Full rule →
Simple Past	`I lived`	Used for completed actions at a specific time in the past. Full rule →
Simple Future	`I will live`	Used for predictions, decisions made at the moment, and promises. Full rule →
Present Continuous	`I am living`	Used for actions happening right now or temporary situations. Full rule →
Past Continuous	`I was living`	Used for actions in progress at a specific moment in the past. Full rule →
Future Continuous	`I will be living`	Used for actions that will be in progress at a specific future time. Full rule →
Present Perfect	`I have lived`	Used for past actions with present relevance, life experiences, or unfinished situations. Full rule →
Past Perfect	`I had lived`	Used for an action that was completed before another past action. Full rule →
Future Perfect	`I will have lived`	Used for an action that will be completed before a specific future time. Full rule →
Present Perfect Continuous	`I have been living`	Used for actions that started in the past and continue now, with focus on duration. Full rule →
Past Perfect Continuous	`I had been living`	Used for ongoing actions in the past that continued up to another past moment. Full rule →
Future Perfect Continuous	`I will have been living`	Used for actions that will have been ongoing up until a specific future time. Full rule →

Past Tense of "Live" — Lived

The past simple of "live" is "lived" — formed by adding "-ed". Use it for actions that were completed at a specific time in the past, such as "yesterday", "last week", or "in 2020". For the full grammar of this tense, see our simple past tense guide.

My grandparents lived to be over ninety years old. A2

Past Participle of "Live" — Lived

The past participle of "live" is "lived" — the same form as the past simple, since "live" is a regular verb. Use it after "have/has/had" for perfect tenses ("I have lived") and after "be" for passive voice ("It was lived").

My grandparents lived to be over ninety years old. A2

Is "Live" Regular or Irregular?

"Live" is a regular English verb. Its past simple and past participle are both formed by adding "-ed" to give "lived". The 3rd-person singular present is "lives" and the gerund/present participle is "living".

Conjugation pattern: regular: add -ed for past, -ing for gerund

How to Pronounce "Live" and Its Forms

Live: /lɪv/ — Stress pattern: O

Rhymes with 'give', not 'alive': /lɪv/ with short 'i' sound. Do not pronounce like 'alive' /laɪv/.

Common mispronunciation of "live"

Often mispronounced /laɪv/ (like alive); correct pronunciation is /lɪv/ (like give).

How to Use "Live" — Common Grammar Patterns

Use present: live/lives; past: lived; gerund: living. Say 'live in a place' or 'live with someone', not 'live at'.

S + live + in/at + place
S + live + with + person

Example Sentences with "Live" in Different Tenses

Simple Present: I live in a small apartment near the city center. A1
Simple Past: My grandparents lived to be over ninety years old. A2

Common Collocations with "Live"

live together
live alone
live in a city
live a life
live by rules

When to Use "Live" vs Similar Verbs

"live" vs "live (adj, pronounced /laɪv/)"

Different pronunciation: verb /lɪv/ (rhymes with give); adjective /laɪv/ (rhymes with alive) meaning broadcast in real time.

Smart synonyms — when to use each one

reside — for formal writing about where one's home is
dwell — for literary or poetic descriptions of inhabiting
exist — for being alive or present in any manner

Antonyms: die, perish

Common Mistakes with "Live"

Wrong: She live often.
Correct: She lives often.
Add "s" to the verb when the subject is third-person singular (he/she/it).

Origin and Etymology of "Live"

From Old English 'libban', meaning to remain in life; Germanic root common to English and German 'Leben'.

One of the most fundamental verbs in English; used literally for existence and figuratively for lifestyle ('live your best life').

Other Forms of "Live"

Noun: life
Adjective: living

Conjugation Tables for "Live"

Negative Forms

Simple present: I do not live · He does not live
Simple past: I did not live · She did not live
Present perfect: I have not lived · He has not lived

Question Forms

Simple present: Do you live? · Does he live?
Simple past: Did you live?
Present perfect: Have you lived?

Passive Voice (where applicable)

Simple present passive: It is lived
Simple past passive: It was lived
Present perfect passive: It has been lived

Frequently Asked Questions About "Live"

Is "live" regular or irregular?: "live" is a regular verb. Add -ed for past simple and past participle: "lived".
What is the past tense of "live"?: The simple past of "live" is "lived".
When do I use simple present vs present continuous with "live"?: Use simple present for habits, facts, and routines: "I live every day." Use present continuous for actions happening right now: "I am living right now."