Thursday, 2 June 2016

word choice - Dare to think or dare thinking?

Dare functions as a modal and a lexical verb (it has the same formal properties as need when used as a lexical verb - followed with a full form of infinitive for example to think). So, when used as a modal verb, usually in a negative and interrogative constructions, you would say I wouldn't even dare think about the results or How dare you think about the results?. However, when used as a lexical verb you would say I wouldn't even dare to think about the results. The latter you mentioned - gerund form - is never used with dare neither as modal nor as a lexical verb.

No comments:

Post a Comment