Can you tell me the difference between these two sentence?

[jennie77]

1. We can't have a drunk living in our house.

2. We can't have a drunk live in our house.

What's the difference between them?

Thank you in advance.

[Bridget]

1. We can't have a drunk living in our house.

2. We can't have a drunk live in our house.

What's the difference between them?

Thank you in advance.

In meaning, no difference.

[Sean Priestley]

@ Bridget: WRONG!!

There is significant difference!

"live" is not a noun! it can either be an adjective or a verb... so the meaning of the sentence collepses in the second example

[Pete]

Both sentences make sense. I agree with Bridget that the literal meaning is the same.

I think you are likely to use them in different circumstances. You would probably be more likely to use the first (with the participle) if a drunk was already living in your house and you were commenting on the situation. You would be more likely to use the second (with the infinitive) if you were commenting on a hypothetical situation that had not yet occurred.

[Bridget]

<@ Bridget: WRONG!! >

Why are you shouting?

[Bridget]

Both sentences make sense. I agree with Bridget that the literal meaning is the same.

I think you are likely to use them in different circumstances. You would probably be more likely to use the first (with the participle) if a drunk was already living in your house and you were commenting on the situation. You would be more likely to use the second (with the infinitive) if you were commenting on a hypothetical situation that had not yet occurred.


I agree on what is more likely in each situation, even though the first could also be used hypothetically.

I think this shows your idea even more:

I won't have a drunk living in our house. Get him out, now!

I won't have a drunk live in our house. *Get him out, now!

The last example doesn't seem to fit if the situation already exists.