1. where be you ?
2. where are you ?
1. incorrect.... why.... I want to hear that logical answer.
2006-08-31 02:18:46 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Teaching
The first is a fragment, an incomplete thought. To have a complete sentence you need all the parts including the subject, verb, noun,etc. You can use the word be this way; Are you going to be coming home tomorrow?, Is this going to be the right way? This would be the right way to do this. You should be able to understand this. Lee, Do you see the ways you can use the word be....? Where are you?, tells you everything you need to know. Lee check this out. http://www.english-online.org.uk/games/gamezone2.htm Use the games here, they should help.
2006-08-31 03:42:10 · answer #1 · answered by curly98 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The verb TO BE is conjugated in this way:
Present tense
I am
you/we/they are
he/she/it is
Past tense
I was
you/we/they were
he/she/it was
In English, the infinitive state of the verb TO BE is only used with a modal verb.
will be
should be
might be
could be
So, in a prescriptive sense, your first example is incorrect because it is using the infinitive form of the verb TO BE instead of the conjugated form. Academic writing requires a more formal use of the language.
In a descriptive sense, your first example is fine because it would be understood by the listener. This is a more informal use of the language.
2006-08-31 02:32:18 · answer #2 · answered by Merries 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I just want to say, Scottie (the person answering above) is incorrect. "Be" is NOT a past tense term. "Be" is present tense. Ex: "Be nice!"
"Been" is past tense. Sorry if that confused you.
2006-08-31 16:12:13 · answer #3 · answered by Heather 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"To be" is one of the few verbs in English that's irregular in the present tense. So you have to conjugate it, and "are" is the conjugated form.
There's no logic to it. "Be" is perfectly understandable, and used in some dialects. (Ebonics, I think.)
2006-08-31 02:28:40 · answer #4 · answered by Goddess of Grammar 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Used in the context of the above sentences:
"be" is a verb, past. You should be asking, "Where have your been?" or "Where were you?" meaning before, in the past.
"are" is a verb, present. "Where are you?", meaning now, in the present.
2006-08-31 02:56:52 · answer #5 · answered by Scottie 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Improper conjugation of the verb 'to be'
2006-08-31 02:24:57 · answer #6 · answered by Pythagorean 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
" where be you" sounds like archaic English.
2006-08-31 02:27:52 · answer #7 · answered by Rudy 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋