exist/live cycling

[Winwin2011]

1.They are so poor that they can hardly exist.
2.They are so poor that they can hardly live. (Is it correct to use live instead of exist?)

3. He likes cycling. He cycles every Sunday.
4. He likes riding bicycles. He rides bicycles every Sunday. (Is it natural?)

Thank you.

[iKitty]

NOT A TEACHER

I would say that it's correct to say live not exist. If the people you are describing were so poor they actually died of starvation, they would still exist – as corpses.

In your second set of sentences, number 3 is most natural. With number 4, you could certainly say He likes riding bicycles, but not He likes riding bicycles every Sunday – it doesn't quite make sense. Something like:

He likes riding bicycles. He cycles every Sunday.

would be preferable.

[5jj]

I think 'exist' is possible - meaning #2: definition of exist from Oxford Dictionaries

[Winwin2011]

NOT A TEACHER

I would say that it's correct to say live not exist. If the people you are describing were so poor they actually died of starvation, they would still exist – as corpses.

In your second set of sentences, number 3 is most natural. With number 4, you could certainly say He likes riding bicycles, but not He likes riding bicycles every Sunday – it doesn't quite make sense. Something like:

He likes riding bicycles. He cycles every Sunday.

would be preferable.

Thanks Moderator 5jj & ikitty..

Sorry for my typing error!

He likes riding bicycles every Sunday-no, not likes riding bicycles, rides bicycles.