Learn English – Does “I be” mean both “am” and “was”

dialecttense

I be traveling around the world.

Does it mean "I am traveling around the world" and "I was traveling around the world"? Does it indicate both of them?

Best Answer

It may be an instance of the "habitual be" used in some dialects (including the pirate stereotype @MrTheWalrus mentions).

Otherwise, "be" in a sentence like that can indicate the present tense subjunctive mood ("If I be travelling..."). This would only be the case if the sentence is somehow contrary to fact, conditional, or otherwise in the subjunctive mood. I think this use of the subjunctive is fading from some English dialects although I can't find a reference for this.

It is also possible that it is a simple error.

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