NEED

(MUST DO) [verb] he/she/it needs or need - to have (to)He needs to lose a bit of weight. [+ to infinitive]Before we make a decision, we need to consider our options. [+ to infinitive]I need to do some shopping on my way home from work. [+ to infinitive]We need to find a solution to the problem of pollution in our cities. [+ to infinitive]I don't think we need ask him. [+ infinitive without to]Nothing need be done about this till next week. [+ infinitive without to](slightly formal) "Need we take your mother?" "No, we needn't/I don't think we need." [+ infinitive without to]We needn't go till about ten o'clock. [+ infinitive without to]USAGE: When followed by 'to' + infinitive, the he/she/it form of 'need' is 'needs'. When it is used on its own or followed by an infinitive without 'to', the he/she/it form is 'need'. In questions and negative sentences, you can follow 'need' with either 'to' + infinitive, or with an infinitive without 'to'. But in ordinary positive sentences, it can only be followed by 'to' + infinitive. To form the negative of 'need', you can say either 'need not/needn't go' or 'do not/don't need to go'. When describing what someone said in the past, 'need' can be used as a past form: He told me I needn't be afraid means He said "You needn't be afraid".If you say that someone or something needn't do something, you can also mean that there is no reason for them to do it.You needn't worry - I'm not going to mention it to anyone. [+ infinitive without to]It's a wonderful way of getting to see Italy, and it needn't cost very much. [+ infinitive without to]If you say that someone didn't need to do something, it means either that they did it although they did not have to, or that they did not do it because they did not have to.I didn't need to buy any extra material. [+ to infinitive](esp. UK) If you tell someone they needn't have done something you mean that it was not necessary for them to have done it, although they did do it.You needn't have washed all those dishes, you know - I'd have done them myself when I got home. [+ infinitive without to]You needn't have worried about the dinner - it was absolutely delicious! [+ infinitive without to]The accident need never (= should not) have happened. [+ infinitive without to]Needn't can also be used in a threatening way to mean 'shouldn't'.He needn't think I'm going to clean up after him all the while! [+ infinitive without to]You needn't laugh! It'll be your turn next! [+ infinitive without to]"Did he upset a lot of people at the meeting?" "Need you ask (= Yes, as expected)!"I need hardly say (= It is obvious) what a pleasure it is to see you.Need I say (= Obviously), I'm extremely sorry to hear the news about your father.Tom was doing the cooking - need I say more? (= you know what to expect after I have told you that).