I think there's some kind of drift going on there with "be honest", where "to be" loses some of its stative quality.
Why don't you be honest and admit you were wrong? Why doesn't he just be quiet when I tell him to? * Why doesn't she be at home?
Yes, in the question asked in the second person, the 'why don't you be' construction implies an imperative, which doesn't work in the other persons.
@fizzy.bleach started
London Fixed Gear and Single-Speed is a community of predominantly fixed gear and single-speed cyclists in and around London, UK.
This site is supported almost exclusively by donations. Please consider donating a small amount regularly.
I think there's some kind of drift going on there with "be honest", where "to be" loses some of its stative quality.
Why don't you be honest and admit you were wrong?
Why doesn't he just be quiet when I tell him to?
* Why doesn't she be at home?