Modal Verbs 'need and dare'

In this article we are going to study about the Modal Verbs ‘need, and dare’.

Need and Dare

Need expresses requirement, necessity or obligation.

Dare expresses challenges or courage.

‘dare’ and ‘need’ can be used both as ‘main verb’ and as ‘helping modal verb’.

He needs this medicine. (needs – working as main verb)
You need not study today. (need – working as modal verb; study – main verb)

He does not dare to go there. (dare – working as main verb)
I dare not challenge him. (dare – working as modal verb; challenge – main verb)

In sentences with positive sense

need/dare generally function as main verb (rather than as a modal) and to + $V_1$ comes after them.

We need talk. (incorrect)
We need to talk. (correct; need – main verb)

In sentences with negative sense

‘need/dare not’ are followed by a bare infinitive (i.e. only ‘$V_1$’ and not ‘to + $V_1$‘).

You need not come tomorrow.
He dare not come here again.

In other cases, they may also be followed by to-infinitive.

He will not dare to compete with me. (correct)

Need and Dare with/without do

The modal verb ‘need’ can be used with or without ‘do’.

‘need’ without ‘do’

When used without do, it has no -s and -ed forms.

In such a case, it is used with bare infinitive in negative sentences, sentences that contain semi-negative words like ‘scarcely’ and ‘hardly‘ and in interrogative sentences.

She need not leave. (negative sentence)
Need I fire him? (interrogative sentence)
I scarcely need his help. (sentence with a semi-negative work)

‘need’ with ‘do’

When used with do, it has the usual forms needs, needed.

In such a case, it is used with to-infinitive in negative sentences, and in interrogative sentences.

I don’t need to pay him. (negative sentence)
Do you need to eat now? (interrogative sentence)

‘dare’ without ‘do’

When used without ‘do’, dare is followed by bare infinitive (an infinitive without ‘to’)

He dare not lie. (lie – bare infinitive)

‘dare’ with ‘do’

When used with do, dare takes an infinitive (with or without to) after it.

He doesn’t dare lie to me. (lie – bare infinitive)
What if he does dare to lie? (to lie – to-infinitive)

Uses of Need and Dare

Concept 1: must not Vs. need not

To say that something is not allowed → We use mustn’t
To say that something is not necessary → We use needn’t (or don’t need to) or don’t have to

You mustn’t play inside the house. (it’s not allowed)
You needn’t play inside the house, when you have such a large garden. (it’s not necessary)
You don’t need to play inside the house, when you have such a large garden. (it’s not necessary)
You don’t have to play inside the house, when you have such a large garden. (it’s not necessary)

Concept 2: needn’t Vs. don’t need to

So, we know that to say that something is not necessary, we use needn’t or don’t need to. But there are some minute differences in their use cases. Let’s see.

To give permission not to do something → We can use either needn’t or don’t need to

You don’t need to paint the wall today. You can do it tomorrow. (correct)
You needn’t paint the wall today. You can do it tomorrow. (correct)

But to talk about a general necessity → We prefer don’t need to (rather than needn’t)

You needn’t be over 21 to get married. (incorrect)
You don’t need to be over 21 to get married. (correct)

Extra Books and Tools

If you prefer to learn via books, or want some good English Grammar books for reference purposes, you may read this article which enlists some of the books recommended by us.