The past of ''dare'' as a modal verb

[Untaught88]

Hi,

Are the following correct?

He dared say this.
He dared not speak.
Dared he abuse you?

 

[GoesStation]

Dare requires "to" in the positive, so number 1 is incorrect.

None of them are common in AmE. Number 2 is the least unlikely.

 

[Untaught88]

Does it still require when it is used as a modal verb?

 

[GoesStation]

I don't think dare is used as a modal verb in affirmative statements in AmE. The (British) Cambridge Dictionary has examples of such use, but they don't sound natural to me. I agree with this site's article about dare.

 

[jutfrank]

Yes, dare is still used by some as a modal verb in BrE. I myself might use it in the negative form, such as in He daren't speak. The positive and questions forms sound awkward to me, though.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Hi,

Are the following correct?

He dared say this.
He dared not speak.
Dared he abuse you?

In American English, it's old-fashioned but not wrong.

 

[Untaught88]

Thank you for the responses.

Here is a summary of what I have understood from your posts as a non-native English speaker. Please help if I am wrong.

He dare say this. (It is correct but not natural or is not used.)
He dared say this. (Same as above)

He dare not speak. (It is correct because "dare" is mostly used in negative sentences but it is still not very common.)
He dared not speak. (Same as above)

Dare he do it? (It is correct because "dare" is mostly used in interrogative sentences but it is still not very common.)
Dared he do it? (Same as above)

Am I right?

 

[Untaught88]

@Piscean

Can you please correct what I have understood? I won't use it but I want to clear my understanding.

 

[bhaisahab]

Your understanding is OK.