Dare past tense

Meaning of dare

to have the courage to do something.

Infinitive

Word: dare /dɛər/

Examples:

1. I dare to say that this is the best dessert I've ever tasted.
2. She dares to challenge the traditional norms and carve her own path.
3. He dares his friend to try the spicy noodle challenge with him.

Past Simple

Word: dared /dɛəd/

Examples:

1. She dared to speak her mind in the meeting, even though it was unpopular.
2. He dared me to jump into the freezing lake, and I foolishly accepted.
3. They dared to dream of a better future, despite the obstacles in their way.

Past Participle

Word: dared /ˈdɛɹd/

Examples:

1. The challenge was dared by even the most fearful among them.
2. The heights had been dared by only a few before her.
3. The ancient ruins were dared to be explored despite the warnings.

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Bare infinitive

Affirmative statements indicating a challenge or act of bravery. When someone regularly takes risks, confronts fears, or challenges someone else to do something that requires courage.
Example. I dare to speak the truth, even when it's unpopular.
Example. She doesn't dare to confront her manager about the issue.
Example. Do you dare to jump from the high dive?
Negative sentences or questions to suggest that someone does not have the courage to do something. It's often used to question or negate someone's willingness or boldness to perform an action.
Example. I dare to speak the truth, even when it's unpopular.
Example. She doesn't dare to confront her manager about the issue.
Example. Do you dare to jump from the high dive?

Past Simple

An action of challenging someone or oneself that took place at a specific time in the past. It refers to a completed challenge or act of courage.
Example. Last week, he dared to ask for a promotion.
Example. I can't believe you dared to eat that spicy food!
Example. She didn't dare to speak up during the meeting.
Example. Did he dare to tell the truth?
Expressing disbelief or amazement that someone had the courage to do something in the past. When looking back, you can express surprise that someone was brave enough to do something.
Example. Last week, he dared to ask for a promotion.
Example. I can't believe you dared to eat that spicy food!
Example. She didn't dare to speak up during the meeting.
Example. Did he dare to tell the truth?
In negative sentences or questions, discussing past actions where someone lacked the courage to do something. Reflecting on opportunities or actions avoided out of fear.
Example. Last week, he dared to ask for a promotion.
Example. I can't believe you dared to eat that spicy food!
Example. She didn't dare to speak up during the meeting.
Example. Did he dare to tell the truth?

Past Participle

Present perfect tense, indicating an action of bravery or challenge that has occurred at an indefinite time up to now. The past participle combined with 'has' or 'have' communicates actions of daring that relate to the present.
Example. I have never dared to sing in public before.
Example. Before that day, she had never dared to stand up for herself.
Example. He was never dared to show his true feelings.
Example. If I had dared to dream bigger, things might be different.
Example. She hasn't dared to ask for help.
Example. Have you ever dared to defy expectations?
Past perfect tense, to talk about actions of challenging or daring that happened before another past action. This use emphasizes that someone took a challenging step before another event in the past.
Example. I have never dared to sing in public before.
Example. Before that day, she had never dared to stand up for herself.
Example. He was never dared to show his true feelings.
Example. If I had dared to dream bigger, things might be different.
Example. She hasn't dared to ask for help.
Example. Have you ever dared to defy expectations?
Passive voice, indicating that the subject of the sentence was challenged or dared by someone or something. Used less commonly with 'dared,' but it's possible when the action of daring involves a passive recipient.
Example. I have never dared to sing in public before.
Example. Before that day, she had never dared to stand up for herself.
Example. He was never dared to show his true feelings.
Example. If I had dared to dream bigger, things might be different.
Example. She hasn't dared to ask for help.
Example. Have you ever dared to defy expectations?
Conditional sentences or hypotheticals, showing actions of daring within 'if' clauses or similar constructs. When speculating about courage or challenges in various scenarios.
Example. I have never dared to sing in public before.
Example. Before that day, she had never dared to stand up for herself.
Example. He was never dared to show his true feelings.
Example. If I had dared to dream bigger, things might be different.
Example. She hasn't dared to ask for help.
Example. Have you ever dared to defy expectations?
Negative sentences or questions about past courage or actions in a more complex or formal structure. Utilizing the past participle to navigate intricate discussions about past bravery or lack thereof.
Example. I have never dared to sing in public before.
Example. Before that day, she had never dared to stand up for herself.
Example. He was never dared to show his true feelings.
Example. If I had dared to dream bigger, things might be different.
Example. She hasn't dared to ask for help.
Example. Have you ever dared to defy expectations?

Common mistakes

— 01

Confusion Between Forms

A common mistake with verbs like 'dare' is confusing its simple past and past participle forms, especially since 'dare' can be a regular or irregular verb. The simple past form of 'dare' is 'dared' when used in a regular sense. However, when used in a semi-modal auxiliary form, it sometimes appears without the -ed ending (e.g., 'He dare not speak'). The past participle form is generally 'dared' in regular constructions. Mistaking these can lead to grammatical errors, such as incorrectly conjugating the verb in perfect tenses or using the wrong form with modal verbs.

— 02

Incorrect Use in Perfect Tenses

Another mistake arises when forming perfect tenses with 'dare.' Users often forget to use the past participle form, leading to errors in sentences. For example, the correct formation in the present perfect tense is 'has/have dared,' but a common mistake would be saying or writing 'has/have dare.' This is a typical error resulting from not recognizing 'dared' as the correct past participle form to use with auxiliary verbs like 'has' or 'have.'

— 03

Omitting the Auxiliary Verb

Particularly with its semi-modal usage, 'dare' can lead to mistakes in negative and interrogative sentences. Some might incorrectly omit the auxiliary verb, leading to grammatically incorrect sentences. For instance, the correct form is 'Does he dare to go?' but a common error would be 'Dare he to go?' Similarly, 'He doesn’t dare to go' is often mistakenly written as 'He dare not go,' overlooking the necessity of the auxiliary verb in standard English, although the latter can be acceptable in more archaic or formal uses.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the past simple form of 'dare'?

The past simple form of 'dare' is 'dared.' It is used to describe actions that happened at a specific time in the past. For instance, you might say, 'Last year, I dared to speak in front of a large audience for the first time.'

How is the past participle form of 'dare' used?

The past participle form of 'dare' is also 'dared.' It is used in perfect tenses and passive voice constructions. For example, in the sentence 'He has never dared to confront his fears,' 'dared' is the past participle used with the present perfect tense. In passive voice, you might say, 'The challenge was dared by only a few brave souls.'

Can 'dare' be used without 'to' in its past forms?

Yes, particularly in informal or archaic usage, 'dare' can be used without 'to' in its past forms, but this usage is less common in modern English. For example, 'He dared not speak of it again' is an example where 'dare' is used without 'to.' However, in most contemporary contexts, especially in writing, you would more likely see 'He didn't dare to speak of it again.' Is there a difference in meaning or usage between the past simple 'dared' and the past participle 'dared'