Will' and 'would' to describe natural tendency

Like the simple present tense [> 9.6-8] will (with a 3rd person subject)

can refer to general truths or to the qualities of things; would can

sometimes refer to the past. Water will boil at 100°C It won't boil at under 100°C I planted a vine last year but it wouldn't grow because it didn't get enough sun

In the same way will and would can suggest 'has the capacity to'.

Would is more tentative than will'-That container will/won't hold a gallon (definite statement) That container would/wouldn't hold a gallon ('tentative')

'Dare' as a modal verb and as a full verb

Forms of 'dare' as a modal verb and as a full verb

Like need dare can work as a modal verb or as a full verb with little or no difference in meaning

Present reference past reference

Modal verb modal verb.

dare daren't'don't dare + go dared/dared not/didn t dare + go

full regular verb full regular verb:

dare don t dare + to godared'didn't dare + to go

11.66 Notes on the forms of 'dare'

Dare as a modal is not nearly as common as need and used to as modals. Its function is generally filled by verb phrases like (not) be afraid to or (not) have the courage to[> 11.67],

Like modal need [> 11. 49], modal dare occurs in questions and negatives and is rare in the affirmative, unless a negative is expressed or implied:

Dare you do it? - I daren't do it

I hardly dare tell him what happened (implied negative)

Questions/negatives are more commonly formed with do'does did

Do you dare tell him? I don't dare tell him

Did you dare tell him I didn't dare tell him Such forms are anomalous because dare is like a full verb in taking do, but like an auxiliary in taking a bare infinitive.

To can be used after dare in the examples with do don t and d'd d'dn t, making it a full verb, but not changing its meaning:

Do you dare to tell him? I don't dare to tell him etc. Both dare not and dared not can be used to refer to the past, though this is more formal:

Mother dare(d) not tell father she d given away his old jacket

Dare cannot combine with be + progressive, but it can combine with Have + past participle, though this is not very common: I didn ' t like their new house though I daren't have said so

Other uses of modal auxiliaries