Dare

Dare is both a main verb and a semi-modal verb.

Dare can mean ‘challenge somebody’. With this meaning, it is a main verb and requires an object. Any verb that follows it is in the to-infinitive:

Go on, I dare you.

Some snakes can bite but I dare you to hold this big snake.

Dare also means ‘to be brave enough or rude enough to do something’. With this meaning, it can be used as an ordinary main verb which can be followed by a to-infinitive or an infinitive without to. Less commonly, it can be used as a semi-modal verb followed by an infinitive without to.

Affirmative statement

If Sally dares (to) go there again, she’ll be in big trouble! (ordinary verb)

Negative statement

He doesn’t dare (to) go there. (ordinary verb)

No one dares (to) go there. (ordinary verb)

No one dare go there. (semi-modal verb)

Affirmative question

Does anyone dare (to) go there? (ordinary verb)

Dare anyone go there? (semi-modal verb)

Negative question

Doesn’t he dare (to) go there? (ordinary verb)

Daren’t he go there? (semi-modal verb)

Typical error

We don’t use infinitive with to after semi-modal dare in the expression How dare you:

How dare you suggest she was lazy!

Not: How dare you to suggest…