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English grammar

Need, dare, had better and be bound to

C1 · Advanced Verbs and time Questions 10

The rule

need and dare can be ordinary verbs (You don’t need to come, She didn’t dare to ask) or modals in negatives and questions, with no -s, no do and a bare infinitive: You needn’t come, Need I say more?, I daren’t ask, How dare you!. had better (usually ’d better) gives strong advice or a warning about now or the future, with a bare infinitive and the negative had better not: You’d better leave now. Several be + adjective + to forms add a modal meaning: be bound to and be sure to (certain), be liable to and be apt to (tends to, usually of something unwelcome: The road is liable to flooding). ought to means should, with the negative ought not to. I dare say means I suppose.

Pattern

needn’t / Need I …? / daren’t / How dare … + bare infinitive · had better (not) + bare infinitive · be bound / sure to (certain) · be liable / apt to (tends to) · ought (not) to · I dare say

Examples

  1. You’d better not tell anyone until it’s official.

  2. I daren’t ask him for another day off.

  3. Need I remind you that the deadline is tomorrow?

  4. This old printer is liable to jam if you use thick paper.

Common mistakes

  • Wrong: You had better to leave now.

    Right: You had better leave now.

    had better + bare infinitive.

  • Wrong: You don’t better tell her.

    Right: You had better not tell her.

    The negative is had better not.

  • Wrong: He dares not to say it.

    Right: He daren’t say it.

    Modal daren’t takes a bare infinitive.

Practice questions

Try each one yourself first, then open “Show answer” for the solution and the reason.

  1. 1Choose the correct sentence.

    1. You’d better took an umbrella; it looks like rain.
    2. You’d better taking an umbrella; it looks like rain.
    3. You’d better take an umbrella; it looks like rain.
    4. You’d better to take an umbrella; it looks like rain.
    Show answer

    Answer: C You’d better take an umbrella; it looks like rain.

    had better + bare infinitive.

  2. 2Choose the correct sentence.

    What does the speaker mean?

    You’d better not be late again.

    1. It would be better to be late.
    2. You were late in the past, and that was fine.
    3. A warning: there will be trouble if you are.
    4. A suggestion about yesterday.
    Show answer

    Answer: C A warning: there will be trouble if you are.

    had better not warns of consequences.

  3. 3Fill in the gap.

    How _____ you speak to your mother like that!

    1. dare
    2. must
    3. ought
    4. need
    Show answer

    Answer: A How dare you speak to your mother like that!

    How dare you expresses outrage.

  4. 4This sentence is wrong. Choose the fix.

    You don’t need to worrying about the cost.

    1. You needn’t worrying about the cost.
    2. You needn’t to worry about the cost.
    3. You needn’t worry about the cost.
    4. You don’t need worrying about the cost.
    Show answer

    Answer: C You needn’t worry about the cost.

    Modal needn’t + bare infinitive.

  5. 5Change the sentence.

    Make it a warning with had better.

    It is important that you check the booking.

    1. You had better to check the booking.
    2. You had better check the booking.
    3. You had better checking the booking.
    4. You better had check the booking.
    Show answer

    Answer: B You had better check the booking.

    had better + bare infinitive.

  6. 6Choose the correct sentence.

    How certain is the speaker?

    The shop is bound to be busy on Saturday.

    1. Doubtful
    2. Certain
    3. Hopeful but unsure
    4. Sure it will be quiet
    Show answer

    Answer: B Certain

    be bound to = certain.

  7. 7Choose the correct sentence.

    1. I don’t dare telling her what really happened.
    2. I daren’t tell her what really happened.
    3. I daren’t to tell her what really happened.
    4. I dare not to tell her what really happened.
    Show answer

    Answer: B I daren’t tell her what really happened.

    Modal daren’t + bare infinitive.

  8. 8Fill in the gap.

    This road is _____ to flooding after heavy rain.

    1. about
    2. certain
    3. bound
    4. liable
    Show answer

    Answer: D This road is liable to flooding after heavy rain.

    be liable to + noun: tends to suffer from.

  9. 9Put the words in the right order.

    Need I remind you of the rules

    Show answer

    Answer: Need I remind you of the rules?

    Modal need in a question: no do.

  10. 10Choose the correct sentence.

    What does the sentence tell us?

    Children are apt to copy what they see adults do.

    1. Adults copy children.
    2. Children never copy adults.
    3. Children are not allowed to copy adults.
    4. Children tend to copy adults.
    Show answer

    Answer: D Children tend to copy adults.

    be apt to = tend to.

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