dare (not) infinitive

In the English Grammar Profile, using the word ‘dare’ is b2-c2 and rare. The other strange thing is that some of the most common Ngrams (words found together) are C2 and less common seem to be B2 according to Cambridge research.  For that reason, the complexity checking ability around this vocabulary item should be taken with caution. One thing is quite clear though.  That is, the ability to use ‘dare’ as a modal verb shows B2 and above ability.

In the category of Modality,

B2 point 157 is AFFIRMATIVE, point 136 is NEGATIVE, and point 171 is defined as

BRAVADO semi-modal ‘dare’ to talk about being brave enough to do something.

*Note there are higher levels for dare, but it is such a rare grammar point.  On the EGP:

LOW FREQUENCY ITEM. There is very little use of dare as a semi-modal in CLC even at C2 level. Most examples are dare as main verb. At C level there is lots of evidence of dare + to inf and lots of errors with dare + -ing; Similarly need is most frequently used as a lexical verb need to.

Also, note the EVP entry:

A search for dare _vvi* on iWeb:

1 DARE SAY 6890
2 DARE GO 699
3 DARE TRY 663
4 DARE TAKE 500
5 DARE ASK 479
6 DARE TELL 467
7 DARE CALL 407
8 DARE MAKE 317
9 DARE SPEAK 291

10 DARE TOUCH 275

further collocates:

1 N’T (XX ) 145
2 DO (VD0 ) 115
3 WOULD (VM ) 88

  Distractify

Jenny Slate’s Parentage Influenced Her ‘Big Mouth’ Role — Why She Left

The main premise of the show is puberty and all the awkward ugliness that other shows don’t dare touch.

11 DARE USE 254
12 DARE PUT 232

13 DARE SUGGEST 219

further collocate:

1 WOULD (VM ) 65

   The Cricketer

England v West Indies: Ben Stokes’ longest hour, Kemar Roach’s hoodoo and Shannon Gabriel’s unwavering commitment…

The West Indies seamer, who has bowled far better than his record in this series would dare suggest, went 521 deliveries without taking a Test wicket – an unwanted, unwarranted record that began in Kingston 11 months ago.

14 DARE COME 216
15 DARE THINK 216
16 DARE CHALLENGE 204
17 DARE GET 192
18 DARE LET 191
19 DARE ENTER 170
20 DARE PROGRAM 166

dare _xx _vvi*

1 DARE NOT SPEAK 450
2 DARE NOT SAY 276
3 DARE NOT GO 179
4 DARE NOT TAKE 102
5 DARE NOT TELL 97
6 DARE NOT LOOK 92
7 DARE NOT ASK 89

8 DARE NOT TRUST 85 

(extremely religious Ngram)

  Parker Pioneer

Pastors offer words of hope at Easter | News | parkerpioneer.net

I dare not trust the sweetest frame. But only lean on Jesus’ name. On Christ the solid rock I stand. All other ground is sinking sand. This is a …

Apr 12, 2020

9 DARE NOT THINK 84
10 DARE NOT MAKE 74
11 DARE NOT TOUCH 67
12 DARE NOT LET 66
13 DARE NOT USE 65
14 DARE NOT LEAVE 64
15 DARE NOT TRY 64
16 DARE NOT CALL 62
17 DARE NOT SHOW 62

18 DARE NOT MENTION 55

19 DARE NOT COME 54
20 DARE NOT VENTURE 52

I think strange things which I dare not confess to my own soul.

listen

In the EVP, dare TO + infinitive is B2.

1 DARE TO SAY 1590
2 DARE TO DREAM 1019
3 DARE TO GO 696
4 DARE TO TAKE 526
5 DARE TO TRY 481
6 DARE TO SPEAK 479
7 DARE TO MAKE 436
8 DARE TO ASK 434
9 DARE TO THINK 380
10 DARED TO ASK 375
11 DARED TO DREAM 372
12 DARED TO GO 354
13 DARED TO SPEAK 354
14 DARED TO SAY 350
15 DARE TO LOOK 288

16 DARE TO CALL 285
17 DARE TO BELIEVE 284
18 DARED TO CHALLENGE 277
19 DARE TO ENTER 270
20 DARE TO CHALLENGE 267
21 DARED TO TAKE 267
22 DARES TO SAY 253
23 DARE TO VENTURE 251
24 DARE TO COME 240
25 DARE TO QUESTION 236
26 DARED TO HOPE 224
27 DARE TO USE 217
28 DARE TO WEAR 216
29 DARED TO TRY 216
30 DARED TO QUESTION 214
31 DARED TO MAKE 202
32 DARE TO STAND 195
33 DARE TO TELL 193
34 DARE TO HOPE 186
35 DARES TO SPEAK 168
36 DARING TO SPEAK 161
37 DARE TO BARE 160
38 DARES TO QUESTION 160
39 DARE TO PUT 159
40 DARE TO TOUCH 158
41 DARES TO ASK 158
42 DARES TO CHALLENGE 157
43 DARE TO IMAGINE 155
44 DARES TO GO 155
45 DARE TO GET 152
46 DARED TO LOOK 152

What if we dared to look at the world just as it is?

listen

47 DARED TO THINK 148
48 DARE TO SUGGEST 147
49 DARED TO SUGGEST 145
50 DARING TO DREAM 142
51 DARE TO LIVE 139
52 DARE TO CROSS 136
53 DARED TO ENTER 135
54 DARING TO SUGGEST 133
55 DARED TO STAND 131
56 DARING TO QUESTION 131
57 DARES TO TAKE 130
58 DARE TO STEP 129
59 DARED TO VENTURE 128
60 DARING TO ASK 127
61 DARING TO SAY 127
62 DARE TO GIVE 124
63 DARE TO SHOW 122
64 DARED TO TELL 119
65 DARE TO BREAK 116
66 DARED TO COME 116
67 DARED TO IMAGINE 116
68 DARE TO COMPARE 113
69 DARED TO CALL 113
70 DARE TO APPROACH 112
71 DARE TO EXPLORE 112
72 DARED TO USE 112
73 DARE TO TALK 111
74 DARING TO GO 108
75 DARES TO CALL 105
76 DARE TO OPPOSE 104
77 DARED TO CRITICIZE 104
78 DARING TO TAKE 104
79 DARE TO ATTACK 102
80 DARE TO TREAD 102
81 DARED TO PUT 101
82 DARED TO WRITE 100
83 DARE TO CRITICIZE 99
84 DARE TO FACE 95
85 DARED TO BELIEVE 95
86 DARE TO WRITE 94
87 DARES TO STAND 94
88 DARE TO PLAY 93
89 DARING TO LOOK 92
90 DARE TO ATTEMPT 91
91 DARING TO CHALLENGE 91
92 DARE TO MENTION 90
93 DARED TO SHOW 90
94 DARE TO SHARE 89
95 DARE TO LEAVE 88
96 DARED TO TOUCH 87
97 DARE TO BRING 86
98 DARE TO FOLLOW 86
99 DARE TO RAISE 86
100 DARED TO DEFY 86