Why いた is used instead of いる here?

Question

Why いた is used instead of いる in the dialogue below?

なんでえ
生{い}きてたのか
楓{かえで}ばばあ。

I disagree this question is NOT DUPLICATED. At least not the same problem at Usage of plain i-adjectives or た form (悪かったｖ悪い、良かったｖいい etc） as suggested. — ed9w2in6, Jul 15 '17 at 17:34

ed9w2in6 · Answer 1 · 2017-07-15T17:34:56.713

1

なんで生きてたのか　ー＞　Why you lived (~after a fight)? (~ How did you survived?)

なんで生きているのかー＞　Why you still living? (~ How come you are still alive?)

Your confusion is caused by this:

てた・ていた　are both the same, the former being a different way to speak it.

（Compare to English wanna＝want to・don't=do not）

edited Jul 15 '17 at 17:34

answered Jun 15 '17 at 01:12

ed9w2in6

1 Answers1