dare/dares/dared

dare

I disagree. Terry is described as "was a coward," in the past tense. Therefore, i would use "dared." However, it is worth noting that this sentence makes no sense. If Terry were a coward, why would one not dare to fight him? Perhaps some context would help.

Thanks, Setanta. I think it is ironical that Paul dared not fight with Terry although Terry was a coward. That seems it makes Paul a cowardly person too. Does that makes sense?

Thanks again.

Yes it does.

I hate to agree with you, but you're right I didn't read the sentence properly. And yes, you're also right about it not making sense. DAMN YOU!

Hehehehehe . . .

It makes sense to you and Setanta, Ms Tan, but that doesn't mean it makes that same sense to everyone. Obviously, more context would help to sort out what the real/actual situation was/is.

While the possibilities aren't endless, it could be that Paul dared not fight with someone viewed as a coward because Paul then might be viewed as a bully.

ironical?

I didn't say that, Izzy.

I know you didn't, it was a quotation, but it struck me as the biggest error in this whole thread.

Is the "error" you talking about the use of "ironical"? Because you suppose "ironic" is better or more correct?

Yes. The 'al' bit is tautology.

Is 'ironical' really wrong? Look at the definitions below from the folllowing dictionaries.

Merriam-Webster

ironical
1
: relating to, containing, or constituting irony <an ironic remark> <an ironic coincidence>
2
: given to irony <an ironic sense of humor>
— iron•i•cal•ness noun
See ironic defined for English-language learners »
See ironic defined for kids »
Variants of IRONIC
iron•ic also iron•i•cal

Voculary.com

ironical

adj. characterized by often poignant difference or incongruity between what is expected and what actually is
“it was ironical that the well-planned scheme failed so completely”
Synonyms:
ironic
incongruous
lacking in harmony or compatibility or appropriateness
adj. humorously sarcastic or mocking
“an ironical smile”
Synonyms:
dry, ironic, wry
humorous, humourous
full of or characterized by humor

Definition of IRONIC
1
: relating to, containing, or constituting irony <an ironicremark> <an ironic coincidence>
2
: given to irony <an ironic sense of humor>
— iron•i•cal•ness noun
See ironic defined for English-language learners »
See ironic defined for kids »
Variants of IRONIC
iron•ic also iron•i•cal

Voculary.com
ironical
adj. characterized by often poignant difference or incongruity between what is expected and what actually is
“it was ironical that the well-planned scheme failed so completely”
Synonyms:
ironic
incongruous
lacking in harmony or compatibility or appropriateness
adj. humorously sarcastic or mocking
“an ironical smile”
Synonyms:
dry, ironic, wry
humorous, humourous
full of or characterized by humor

Well I won't disagree with Websters, but I don't like it.

Well, I am surprised, seeing that you are (I believe) British like me. The situation, roughly, is that in UK English "ironic" and "ironical" are both acceptable and both mean the same. In US English "ironic" more or less reigns alone. Webster's New World, 4th ed., (an American English dictionary, as its name implies) gives sole possession of the main entry to 'ironic,' and relegates 'ironical' to the end of the entry, implying that it "occurs less often than the main entry or has a special quality, as in being British, dialectal, poetic, or rare."

However, Merriam-Webster 10th Edition, another American dictionary, lists the two as equal variants. The 3rd (1999) edition of the UK "Fowler's Modern English Usage" revised by the Oxford lexicographer R.W. Burchfield, says that the choice is "governed by the rhythm of the sentence".; It's my conjecture that this is more true in Britain than America, where, it seems to me, 'ironic' clearly prevails in all contexts.

Other pairs like this are comic/comical, splenetic/splenetical and sarcastic and sarcastical (the latter somewhat obsolete I think.)

Some might say the real issue is people using "ironic" where they mean "unfortunate".

Many thanks, Contrex, for the detailed explanation.

I am English, but I've got my own foibles.

Now there's an oxymoron.

Why? Are you picking a fight?