Why is it not a question when the sentence starts with "be"? I don't understand the structure of this sentence.

Native speaker’s answer

Rebecca

I can understand how this may be confusing! This sentence doesn't actually start with "be." It actually is a fragment of an entire sentence. The beginning of the sentence actually is "Millions of citizens involved in the 2020 presidential campaign..." You actually can use "be" at the beginning of a sentence. It does not have to be for questions. Verbs can be used at the beginning of the sentence when it is a command. Ex: A: I don't want to go to school. I hate school. B: Be that as it may, you still need to go to school. Ex: Be a dear and grab that cup for me. Ex: Be the best student you can be.

How do native speakers use this expression?

Share this post

Popular Q&As

04/25

1
What does "peel back" mean and when's it used?
To "peel back layers of something" means to reveal or uncover something, usually something that is hidden deeply or hard to find. This expression is a reference to onions, which have many layers! Ex: Getting to know her is like peeling back the layers of an onion. Ex: Once you peel back different layers of complexity, you can reveal the core.

2
What does "poise" mean? Can it be replaced by "manner"?
Yes! You could replace "poise" with "manner" here. "Poise" means an elegant or controlled manner. Ex: Her poise when ballroom dancing was perfect. Ex: Tiana's manner of speaking was very poised.

3
What's "give me a break" mean?
"Give me a break" is another way of saying "go easy on me" or asking someone not to criticize them too harshly for something, to put less pressure on them. It can also be used when one is exasperated or in disbelief. Ex: Oh, give me a break. You'll never be as good as I am. Ex: I haven't played the flute in a while. Give me a break! Ex: Give him a break. He's still learning how to do the job.

4
Can you explain about the phrase “what are you up to”?
"What are you up to" is a very common English phrase that means "What are you doing" or "What's new in your life." It is a way of asking what the person is doing currently and is also a way to learn what new things are happening in an individual's life. Here are some example conversation sentences: A: Hey! What are you up to? B: I'm just watching t.v. A: I haven't seen you in so long! What are you up to? B: It has been a long time! I'm actually working at a law firm now. A: Wow, that's great! Don't be afraid to use this expression! It is very common and understandable for native English speakers. Thanks for the great question!

5
What does "saving" mean here?
"Savings" as a noun here refers to a collection of money that someone has set aside to save for the future. Someone's "life savings" is the total amount of money that they've been saving during their entire lifetime. Ex: The boy puts his savings in a piggy bank. Ex: I deposit most of the money I earn in my savings account.

Complete the expression with a quiz!