<h1>Use of "dare" as a modal and main verb</h1><h2>Uso de "dare" como verbo modal y verbo principal </h2>

DARE

The first thing important to indicate about this verb is that it has two main meanings:   I) To have the necessary courage to do something. When “dare” is expressing that idea, it will act as a semi-modal verb (as you will see in the next table).   II) To challenge someone to do something. When dare is expressing that idea, it will always act as a main verb (at the end of the article we will indicate its structure).

 

 

La primera cosa importante a indicar sobre este verbo es que tiene dos significados:   I) Tener el coraje necesario (atreverse) a hacer algo. Cuando “dare” está expresando esa idea, actuara como un verbo semimodal (como veras en la próxima tabla).   II) Desafiar a alguien a hacer algo. Cuando “dare” está expresando esa idea, actuará siempre como un verbo principal (al final del articulo indicaremos su estructura).

 

 

I) “Dare” with its meaning “To have the necessary courage “can be acting as:

 

-A modal verb -A main verb. As a modal verb, occurs frequently in interrogative and negative sentences.   How dare you not agree with me?     I daren’t think how many victims there are.   The negative form of dare acting as a modal verb may occur as dare not/daren’t and can be built using the auxiliary “do”.   I dare not go where the flowers grow.   I didn’t dare think of the future, the past was still happening. <<Quote by John Grisham>>

 

I) “Dare” con su significado “tener el coraje necesario” puede estar actuando como:

 

-Un verbo modal. -Un verbo principal. Como verbo modal, se da a menudo en oraciones interrogativas y negativas.   How dare you not agree with me?     I daren’t think how many victims there are.   La forma negativa de “dare” cuando está actuando como un verbo modal puede darse como dare not/daren’t y puede ser construido utilizando el auxiliar “do”.   I dare not go where the flowers grow.   I didn’t dare think of the future, the past was still happening. <<Cita de John Grisham>>

 

 

When used as a modal verb dare is not inflected for person or tense:

Cuando “dare” es usado como verbo modal no se conjuga en persona o tiempo:

She dare s question my authority!

 

When used as a main verb (lexical verb), it may be followed by a “to + infinitive” and it may be inflected:

Cuando se utiliza como verbo principal (verbo léxico ), puede ir seguido seguido de “to + infinitivo” y puede ser conjugado:

She dared to dream and became the first African-American female pilot.

 

 

The non-inflected past form can just be found in very formal texts:

La forma no conjugada del pasado puede únicamente ser encontrada en textos muy formales:

He was so unpredictable; no one dare contradict him.

 

As a main verb, can be followed with or without “to” + infinitive

Como verbo principal, puede ir seguido o no de “to” +  infinitivo:

 

Does she dare (to) share with her that secret?

 

 

II) “Dare” with its meaning as “To challenge someone to do something”

- Always acts as a main verb.

- Its construction will be:

II) “Dare” con su significado de “desafiar a alguien a algo”

-Siempre actúa como verbo principal.

- Su construcción será:

 

Verb + direct object (person challenged) + to + infinitive   I dare you to throw that stone against the window.   (Yo)Te desafío (a ti) a lanzar esa piedra contra el cristal.

 

 

-Not only the interrogative but also the negative are built with the auxiliary verb “do”:

-Tanto el interrogativo como el negativo se construyen con el auxiliar “do”:

 

Did she dared him to walk backwards? ¿Le desafiaste a caminar hacia atrás?

 

See related article: Semi-modal verbs.

Ver artículo relacionado: Verbos semimodales.