he was 16 years old vs he is 16 years old

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. "He was 16 years old" is used when referring to someone's age in the past, while "he is 16 years old" is used when talking about someone's current age.

Last updated: April 09, 2024 • 375 views

This phrase is correct when referring to someone's age in the past.

"he was 16 years old"

This phrase is used to indicate the age of someone at a specific point in the past.

Examples:

When he started high school, he was 16 years old.
Last year, he was 16 years old.

Show examples from the web [+]

I have known Sylvester since he was 16 years old.
When he was 16 years old, so this is in 1996, Aaron illegally transported a undocumented child named Mariluz Santiago across the United States border.
Williams left school when he was 16 years old, becoming an engineer by day and musician by night.
When he was 16 years old, the "Triple A" kidnapped him.
All of the songs were written by Avey Tare (David Portner) from 1997 to 1999, except for "Penny Dreadfuls" which was written when he was 16 years old.
In 1969, when he was 16 years old, Mike melted down his old crayons to make his mom a candle for Christmas.
When he was 16 years old, he was called back to Woolsthope to work.
In 1814, Facundo Bacardí Massó was born in Sitges. Son of a bricklayers' family, he emigrated to Cuba in 1830 when he was 16 years old, following his older brother.
He was convicted in the murder of a storekeeper in Selpa County when he was 16 years old.
He was 16 years old the day he died.
When he was 16 years old,
When he was 16 years old, he found the opportunity to teach a judo class and this experience led him to develop Gracie Jiu-Jitsu (Brazilian judo).
His father trained him to murder, when he was 16 years old.
He joined Ealing Judo Club by claiming that he was 16 years old.
His father taught him to kill when he was 16 years old.
Salaam told the police he was 16 years old and showed them identification to prove it.
He joined the company of Salvador Tamora when he was 16 years old.
At the moment these pictures of him were taken in Milan he was 16 years old.
When he was 16 years old, in 1980, he was awarded the pro license.
In 1839, when he was 16 years old, Ernest traveled to north Africa to work under his brother-in-law, head of accounting for the Treasury Department in Algeria.

Alternatives:

He was 16 at the time.
He was 16 back then.

This phrase is correct when talking about someone's current age.

"he is 16 years old"

This phrase is used to state the age of someone at the present moment.

Examples:

He is 16 years old today.
As of now, he is 16 years old.

Show examples from the web [+]

He is 16 years old, loves hunting and fishing and being outside and doing anything with his hands,
He is 16 years old, loves hunting and fishing and being outside and doing anything with his hands, and so for him, Studio H means that he can stay interested in his education through that hands-on engagement.
He is 16 years old, same age as Hayate.
He is 16 years old, and the oldest of the children.
He is 16 years old in the first season and 18 in the third.
He is 16 years old, loves hunting and fishing and being outside and doing anything with his hands, and so for him, Studio H means that he can stay interested in his education through that hands-on engagement.
Why is he asking a 16-year-old boy to meet him alone in an empty parking lot with a video camera?
My brother is 16 years old.
Our first John Doe is 16-year-old Matthew Price...
However, nationally it is 16 years old.
The minimum working age in Romania is 16 years old.
Krista is 16 years old. Modest birthday party.
16-year-old female, burning sensation when urinating.
But other times, it's such a gray area, like when the baby is 16 years old.
I'm not sure if you're aware, but Shannon in here is 16 years old.
The evidence is 16 years old, and it's only circumstantial.
This is 16-year-old Amber Wallace, found dead at her foster home this morning.
Annuccia is 16 years old, who now goes by the name of Anna.
I don't want her going out so late when she is 16 years old.
One of those girls there is 16 years old, Emma.

Alternatives:

He is currently 16 years old.
He is 16 years old at the moment.

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he was 16 years old vs he is 16 years old