[Grammar] Using 'life' or 'lifetime'?

[Heidi]

Dear teachers,

Would you please tell me if there is a difference in meaning between the two phrases 'in someone's life' and 'in someone's lifetime'.

For example, assume that Alex is an artist, and he is alive now, do we say 'he has drawn many beautiful pictures in his life' or 'in his lifetime'?

 

[yuriya]

Dear teachers,

Would you please tell me if there is a difference in meaning between the two phrases 'in someone's life' and 'in someone's lifetime'.

For example, assume that Alex is an artist, and he is alive now, do we say 'he has drawn many beautiful pictures in his life' or 'in his lifetime'?

These sound better to me:

He drew/left many beautiful pictures in his lifetime.
He has drawn many beautiful pictures (in his life).
He will draw many beautiful pictures in his lifetime.

Let's wait for some definitive answers.

 

[sarat_106]

Dear teachers,

Would you please tell me if there is a difference in meaning between the two phrases 'in someone's life' and 'in someone's lifetime'.

For example, assume that Alex is an artist, and he is alive now, do we say 'he has drawn many beautiful pictures in his life' or 'in his lifetime'?

Life is noun meaning state of being alive.
Lifetime is also noun which denotes:the time that the life of someone continues.
So it depends on the application whether you want to refer to the time when someone is alive or a time after his death. See the following examples:
Although he lived in Paris much of his life he was constantly traveling.(a description after his death)
I am now missing her in my life. (a description when living)
Obama predicts Mars landing in his lifetime (when he is alive)
Hitler dated 3 women in his lifetime (a description after his death)

In the above example:
He has drawn many beautiful pictures in his life and he is still active to draw many more.
He has drawn many beautiful pictures in his lifetime.( normally refers to the time when he was alive)