Introduction
The verb dare is both a main verb and a semi-modal verb. It means to challenge someone to do something he/she is afraid of doing or to have the courage to do something.
When it has the function as a modal verb, dare follows all the grammatical rules of modals.
Form
The verb dare is both a main verb and a semi-modal verb.
When we use dare as a modal verb:
- we do not find the to + verb after dare;
- we form question and negative forms without the auxiliary do;
- we do not apply the -ing form to dare;
- we do not add an -s for the third person singular.
Dare, as an semi-modal verb, always has the same form even for the third person, and we find this structure in its three forms: affirmative, negative and interrogative.
Affirmative
Its structure, in the affirmative form, is:
Subject + dare + zero infinitive
| SUBJECT | DARE | VERB |
|---|---|---|
| I/You | dare | work |
| He/She/It | dare | work |
| We/You/They | dare | work |
Negative
Its full structure, in the negative form, is:
Subject + dare + not + zero infinitive
Negative short form is daren’t:
Subject + daren’t + zero infinitive
| SUBJECT | DARE + NOT | VERB |
|---|---|---|
| I/You | dare not/daren’t |
work |
| He/She/It | dare not/daren’t | work |
| We/You/They | dare not/daren’t | work |
Interrogative
Its structure, in the interrogative form, is:
Dare + subject + zero infinitive + ?
| DARE | SUBJECT | VERB | QUESTION MARK |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dare | I/you | work | …? |
| Dare | he/she/it | work | …? |
| Dare | we/you/they | work | …? |
Example
- I dare not tell everyone they were cowardice. /
I dare not to tell everyone they were cowardice. - Dare anyone make a bet there? /
Does anyonedaremake a bet there? - No one dare speak with a dictator. /
No one is daring speak with a dictator. - She dare show me her diary. /
She dares show me her diary.
Use
Dare is used as a semi-modal verb or an ordinary one.
NOTE: Dare is not a very common verb, but we use it above all in set phrases such as: Don’t you dare! or How dare you?
Summary
The verb dare is both a main verb and a semi-modal verb. It means to challenge someone to do something he/she is afraid of doing or to have the courage to do something.
When it has the function as a modal verb, dare follows all the grammatical rules of modals: it is followed by the bare infinitive form; we form question and negative forms without the auxiliary do; we do not apply the -ing form to dare; we do not add an -s for the third person singular.
We can use it in its different forms:
- affirmative: we start with the subject followed by dare and a zero infinitive;
- negative: we start with the subject followed by dare, not, and a zero infinitive;
- interrogative: we start with dare followed by the subject and a zero infinitive (the sentence ends with a question mark).
For example:
— Affirmative: “You dare tell our parents what happened yesterday.”
— Negative: “You dare not tell our parents what happened yesterday.”
— Interrogative: “Dare you tell our parents what happened yesterday?”
♦ “I dare you to tell our parents what happened yesterday.” = We use dare as a main verb to challenge someone to do something by using the to-infinitive to tell.
Let’s revise this content within the {Form} section. Take a look at the {Example} section that shows its use within a context.