Why live and not living?

[Goran]

English Language Proficiency Tests, Advanced Level

ESL/EFL Test #119 "Gerund or Infinitive", question 2

All I can say at the moment is: Long ......... the company!

(a) live
(b) lives
(c) lived
(d) living

English Language Proficiency Tests, Advanced Level

ESL/EFL Test #119 "Gerund or Infinitive", answer 2

All I can say at the moment is: Long live the company!

Correct answer: (a) live

Your answer was: incorrect
All I can say at the moment is: Long living the company!
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why live and not living?

Goran

[Alan]

Goran[/quote]

Hi,

This is the Subjunctive: May the company live long and there is no 's' in the third person singular.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
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