You only die once ! "He has died effectively the present tense. " could be used in a hospital to give the bad news to a relative. After that moment he has died. But after that moment he is dead. 2 he doesn't continue to die for five years "he died five years ago" 3 He died five years ago. No need for since 4 Technically this phrase could, in rare instances, be correct. eg Mr A could be lying in court that he met Mr X five years before. But the lawyer may have checked and found that Mr X has been dead for more than 5 years so the lawyer could say that Mr A could not have met Mr X five years ago because "he was dead five years ago". 5 Either he has died (present tense). or "he died" past tense. He can't have just died now, five years ago.