Need help to distinguish between auxiliary dare and main verb dare

Question

I am facing a problem while differentiating between the use of dare as an auxiliary verb and as a main verb. Most of the web sites say that you should know it by the way it's used but all the sentences i have come across just confuse me more and more. Consider the following two examples.

1. If you dare breath a word about it I'll never speak to you.

2. None dares to speak freely about the political situation.

Now, from the infinitive in the second sentence it's quite obvious that dare is used as a main verb but what if this sentence is given to us in MCQs. How would we differentiate wheather this sentence requires a main verb or an auxiliary verb.

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

MCQ?

There is no requirement in those sentences to use either one or the other form of dare.
You are free to choose whichever you like, because both are in non-assertive clauses (questions, negatives, or hypotheticals in form or meaning).

If you dare breathe a word / If you dare to breathe a word
None dare speak freely / None dares to speak freely

The assertive form almost always occurs with the full verb.

He dares to speak up in class (and so do I).
*He dare speak up in class (and so dare I).

CJ

Grammarian-bot · Answer

But if you visit the following web page you'll see that American Heritage Book of English forbades the use of an infinitive in th first sentence since, to them, its a helping verb and can't be followed by "to".

If you dare breathe a word about it, I’ll never speak to you again.

http://www.bartleby.com/64/C001/022.html

CalifJim · Answer

American Heritage Book of English forbades the use of an infinitive in
[If you dare breathe a word about it, I’ll never speak to you again.]

"forbids", not "forbades"!

I think you misread that article.

Watch out for what "it" means when reading that article. Also, be aware that the sentences given are examples of a particular usage. Nothing in the article says that the examples are correct only in the given form.

Here is part of the article below:

Depending on its sense, the verb dare sometimes behaves like an auxiliary verb (such as can or may) and sometimes like a main verb (such as want or try).

When used as an auxiliary verb,
dare does not change to agree with its subject: He dare not do that again.
It also does not combine with do in questions, negations, or certain other constructions: Dare we tell her the truth? I dare not mention their names.
Finally, it does not take to before the verb that follows it: If you dare breathe a word about it, I’ll never speak to you again.

When used as a main verb,
dare does agree with its subject (If he dares to show up at her house I’ll be surprised), and
it does combine with to (Did anyone dare to admit it?).
It may optionally take to before the verb following it: No one dares (or dares to) speak freely about the political situation.
_____________

The article could have been written like this, with examples modified and switched:

...
Finally, it does not take to before the verb that follows it: If you dare show up at her house, I'll be surprised.

When used as a main verb,
dare does agree with its subject (If he dares to breathe a word about it, I'll never speak to him again),
...

In the first part of the article, the author simply has to invent sentences that illustrate each feature of auxiliary dare which he has explained.
In the second part of the article, the author simply has to invent sentences that illustrate each feature of full verb dare which he has explained.

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

Well.. that was seem to have some logic. Thankx CJ for your help. Well can you tell me what are noun clauses and how can we identify them. i know that they are group of word that have their own subject and verb. But still i can't figure out hoe to identify them.

GB

Grammarian-bot · Answer

Well thanx. That helped a lot.

Can u tell me what a noun clause is and how can we identify them in a sentence.

GB

Need help to distinguish between auxiliary dare and main verb dare

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