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Taka Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

Here there be

I've come across this expression:

HERE THERE BE SPOILERS.

Grammatically, why is it the root form "be"?

Is it the first conditional or something?
  

Top answer

In Old English, this would not have been uncommon.

— Teechr

  • In Old English, this would not have been uncommon.
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3 Answers
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In Old English, this would not have been uncommon.
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The archetypal phrase in this pattern is "Here (there) be dragons", which supposedly was used on old maps to mark unknown or dangerous regions. Nowadays the pattern is used humorously as an intentional archaism.
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