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[www0935]

Please help me with the following question:

________ such a thing to me?
(A) How do you dare to say (B) How dare you say
(C) How dare that you say (D) How dare you saying

The answer is (B), but how about (A)? Is there anything wrong with (A)?

"Dare" can be used like a modal verb, and can also be used as an
ordinary verb. So the answer (A) should be right, shouldn't it?

Thanks a lot.

[redset]

(A) would also be acceptable, but the sentence would have a slightly different meaning. Daring is bravery, doing something dangerous or risky which is likely to have repercussions. "How dare you...?" is a direct admonishment, basically a way of saying "what you've done is so completely unacceptable that you would have to be very brave to do it and risk the consequences". It's not actually a question, or a recognition of someone's bravery, it's a way of saying that someone has crossed the line.

On the other hand, "how do you dare to...?" is a recognition of the danger and risk involved in something, and asking someone "how can you be so brave?" It's a way of acknowledging someone's bravery, or asking for a reason for their actions (perhaps they want to help a friend, or maybe the action isn't actually as risky as it seems). This could also work in the "how dare you" sense, as a way of demanding an explanation for someone's actions - but in this sense it's still a question and not an outright admonishment.

[Tone]

Good to know...
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