Question
Why do we say "it lives" but also say "it can live?" What is the difference in the usage of live and lives?
Answers
Writeacher
"it lives" is simply the present tense form, and for 3rd person singular, we add an -s in English.
"can" is used here as an auxiliary verb, and needs to be used with a verb's first principal part. Read and study this webpage for a really good explanation of auxiliary verbs:
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/auxiliary.htm
"can" is used here as an auxiliary verb, and needs to be used with a verb's first principal part. Read and study this webpage for a really good explanation of auxiliary verbs:
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/auxiliary.htm