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To be or just be
Robert
553 Posts
(Offline)
1
2016/12/07 - 7:17am

We generally place   be   among  the linguistic parts that represent actions.  But it  obviously does no such thing,  which makes it stick out from the rest of them.    Our universe requires that there be a place in a sentence  for a verb.   But where we cannot find a suitable verb, we put in  be.   But that is only syntactical bureaucracy.   We know that   be   is not really a verb.

I wonder if there are cultures that accord their  be  with its own category, like with a name other than verb?   Or does there exist such word in English already?  Do you know?

EmmettRedd
859 Posts
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2
2016/12/07 - 9:00am

We have a some-time/retired radio host that says, "I be fine." It sure is a verb in that sentence. 🙂

Guest
3
2016/12/07 - 11:03pm

"Be here now" seems to put the "be" to work as a verb; it promotes an activity, with a specific place and time. 

Robert
553 Posts
(Offline)
4
2016/12/08 - 12:25am

Or you purposely take away the option of actions to make the command that much tougher.  It's instantaneous, no time allowed, not like 'come here.'

Guest
5
2016/12/16 - 6:40pm

If you discount be as a verb because it is not an action, then you must discount sit, lie, lean, or any other word used to describe a static situation. Merriam-Webster describes a verb as a word that "expresses an act, occurrence, or mode of being." I think the broader definition takes care of thee problem.

Robert
553 Posts
(Offline)
6
2016/12/17 - 1:24am

That definition looks a bit too indulgent to suit me .   It catches shrimps and crabs and  lobsters all in one net.

Be  is different because you can not make a movie of it to see how it happens.   There is no before and after states to show the difference.

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