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NaOH Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
dare + verb infinitive form
i found this text from IMDb:
In BloodRayne, the vicious Lord Kagan (Ben Kingsley) wields power so fiercely that almost no one dares oppose him.
sholdn't it be "no one dares TO oppose him"?
i know the above text is grammatically correct (with no TO). could anyone explain why? thanks.
In BloodRayne, the vicious Lord Kagan (Ben Kingsley) wields power so fiercely that almost no one dares oppose him.
sholdn't it be "no one dares TO oppose him"?
i know the above text is grammatically correct (with no TO). could anyone explain why? thanks.
Top answer
I don't think there is any really satisfactory explanation except to say that the verb "dare" is quite unusual. Sometimes it is used as a full verb, while at other times it is used somewhat like a modal or auxiliary verb. The full form is acceptable in all circumstances; the auxiliary-like form is more restricted.
- I don't think there is any really satisfactory explanation except to say that the verb "dare" is quite unusual.
- Sometimes it is used as a full verb, while at other times it is used somewhat like a modal or auxiliary verb.
- The full form is acceptable in all circumstances; the auxiliary-like form is more restricted.
- The restriction is usually to the negative and question forms.
- He dare not tell the secret.
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6 Answers
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I don't think there is any really satisfactory explanation except to say that the verb "dare" is quite unusual.
Sometimes it is used as a full verb, while at other times it is used somewhat like a modal or auxiliary verb.
The full form is acceptable in all circumstances; the auxiliary-like form is more restricted. The restriction is usually to the negative and question forms.
Sometimes it is used as a full verb, while at other times it is used somewhat like a modal or auxiliary verb.
The full form is acceptable in all circumstances; the auxiliary-like form is more restricted. The restriction is usually to the negative and question forms.
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dare in negative or interrogative sentences should be used without to.
sincerely zamani
sincerely zamani
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Anonymousdare in negative or interrogative sentences should be used without to.
sincerely zamani
In my opinion CJ is right.
Cheers
CB
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dare is a marginal modal auxiliary.
It can be used as a modal auxiliary with bare infinitive and without the inflected forms or as a main verbs with or without to inf and with inflected forms.
He dare(s) (to) go.
Dare you go?
He dared not go.
The modal usage is restricted to nonassertive contexts, maainly negative and inte
It can be used as a modal auxiliary with bare infinitive and without the inflected forms or as a main verbs with or without to inf and with inflected forms.
He dare(s) (to) go.
Dare you go?
He dared not go.
The modal usage is restricted to nonassertive contexts, maainly negative and inte
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