7

I be quiet.

Is it incorrect?

One of my friends told me that "I be quiet" is an incorrect sentence. I don't know what to say.

Please clear this confusion.

Also, when I looked for this sentence, there was a sentence like.

You be quiet.

If this is correct, then why is "I be quiet" incorrect? May I know please?

Improve this question
13
  • 2
    "I am quiet" is correct, if you want to say that you are quiet. Google for the forms of to be
    – CowperKettle
    Commented Dec 5, 2015 at 10:54
  • 2
    It means my friend was right.
    – I don't know who I am.
    Commented Dec 5, 2015 at 11:17
  • 3
    You be quiet is an imperative. *Let I be an engineer is simply ungrammatical.
    – user230
    Commented Dec 5, 2015 at 11:22
  • 3
    Let me be an engineer? @snailboat
    – Maulik V
    Commented Dec 5, 2015 at 11:23
  • 2
    Yeah, I got it now. In imperative sentences "you" is understood.
    – I don't know who I am.
    Commented Dec 5, 2015 at 11:23

3 Answers 3

Reset to default
5

I be quiet.

You can say "I am/was quiet," but you cannot say "I be quiet". However, you can use this clause in the subjunctive mood as follows:

They suggest that I be quiet.

Is it essential that I be quiet?

In addition, you can also say "I'd better be quiet".

Improve this answer
1
2

Also consider this ... "I 'd be quiet". Note the 'd. The apostrophe implies a missing letter / letters in this case and implies "I would" be quiet.

Improve this answer
2
  • 1
    That corrects the sentence, but doesn't explain why it's incorrect to say "I be".
    – ColleenV
    Commented Dec 5, 2015 at 14:35
  • @ColleenV This answer provides supplemental information, which answers sometimes do. Also I don't see how the answer by Ale answers the actual question asked.
    – user20792
    Commented Dec 5, 2015 at 14:57
1

This is often used with the adverb better:

— I better be quiet.

It invokes the subjunctive mood.

Often, constructions like it's necessary/important/vital, etc + that + subject + base form invoke it.

— It's vital that I be quiet from now on.
— It's vital for me to be quiet from now on.

The latter means the same as the former but the infinitive and object pronoun are used.

Improve this answer

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .