still alive or still living? (2024)

E

englishistoughstuff

New Member

Korean

  • Jan 22, 2014
  • #1

Hello,

I want to ask someone if his/her granmother is still alive.

"Is your grandmother still alive?"
"Is your grandmother still living?"

Will any of these sound impolite? Which one is better?

Thank you so much still alive or still living? (1)

  • Copyright

    Member Emeritus

    Penang

    American English

    • Jan 22, 2014
    • #2

    "still living" is much the softer of the two expressions. And I hope she is. still alive or still living? (3)

    S

    Sympathy

    Senior Member

    London

    English (British)

    • Jan 22, 2014
    • #3

    In a thread "living v. alive" Dale Texas wrote:

    If you want to avoid saying something like "Is your father dead?" you could say "Is your father still living? rather than "Is your father still alive?"

    Both are possible and neither need sound impolite. "Still alive" is commoner but, depending on the tone of voice, may suggest surprise, i.e. "you are not young yourself, surely she must be dead by now?". For that reason "still living" is perhaps better; it would show you have chosen your words carefully so as to avoid any possibility of giving offence. But if you are asking about an animal, only "alive" is possible: "is your cat still alive?"

    L

    lapdwicks

    Senior Member

    Sinhala

    • Jan 24, 2014
    • #5

    englishistoughstuff said:

    Hello,

    I want to ask someone if his/her granmother is still alive.

    "Is your grandmother still alive?"
    "Is your grandmother still living?"

    Will any of these sound impolite? Which one is better?

    Thank you so much still alive or still living? (5)

    As I feel, still living is better for normal situations.

    But, consider this.

    A: He was badly injured in the accident and taken to hospital.

    B: Really? Is he still alive? (not living here)

    Copyright

    Member Emeritus

    Penang

    American English

    • Jan 24, 2014
    • #6

    Ok, I considered it. still alive or still living? (7) And found it to be an unnatural -- in polite conversation -- exchange. If someone says, "He was badly injured in the accident and taken to hospital," I would assume that's all the person knew and would not ask whether he was still alive -- or I would make the assumption that he was still alive. We might, however, ask, "Is he expected to make it?" or "Do the doctors expect him to make it?" depending on the circumstances.

    "Still living" does not mean "living here," by the way.

    L

    lapdwicks

    Senior Member

    Sinhala

    • Jan 24, 2014
    • #7

    Copyright said:

    Ok, I considered it. still alive or still living? (8) And found it to be an unnatural -- in polite conversation -- exchange. If someone says, "He was badly injured in the accident and taken to hospital," I would assume that's all the person knew and would not ask whether he was still alive -- or I would make the assumption that he was still alive. We might, however, ask, "Is he expected to make it?" or "Do the doctors expect him to make it?" depending on the circumstances.

    "Still living" does not mean "living here," by the way.

    Yes, I fully agree.

    But, if the speaker and the listener were enemies (not well wishers) of the injured person, which term would they use, living or alive? I assume it to be alive.

    Am I right here?

    Copyright

    Member Emeritus

    Penang

    American English

    • Jan 24, 2014
    • #8

    Yes.
    ........

    R

    redgiant

    Senior Member

    Cantonese, Hong Kong

    • Jan 24, 2014
    • #9

    I've heard "Television wasn't around until the 20th century". By extension, would it be okay to ask "Is she still around" in certain contexts?

    Myridon

    Senior Member

    Texas

    English - US

    • Jan 24, 2014
    • #10

    It can be, but "Is she still around?" often means "Does she still live in this area?" or "Has she been seen around here lately?" You would have to be very careful about the context or you might get some odd looks.

    RM1(SS)

    Senior Member

    Connecticut

    English - US (Midwest)

    • Jan 24, 2014
    • #11

    englishistoughstuff said:

    I want to ask someone if his/her granmother is still alive.

    "Is your grandmother still alive?"
    "Is your grandmother still living?"

    Will any of these sound impolite? Which one is better?

    It's old-fashioned, but you could also say "Is your grandmother yet living?"

    Edgar Bergen: "Is your mother yet living?"
    Mortimer Snerd: "No, not yet."

    R

    redgiant

    Senior Member

    Cantonese, Hong Kong

    • Jan 24, 2014
    • #12

    Myridon said:

    It can be, but "Is she still around?" often means "Does she still live in this area?" or "Has she been seen around here lately?" You would have to be very careful about the context or you might get some odd looks.

    Yes, that's my concern too. A possible scenario in which it may work is when someone is reminiscing about his times with his grandma when he was a kid. Then when I ask him "Is she still around", there is a chance that he knows what I'm asking.

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