(~s, ~ing, ~ed)
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
Note: 'Need' sometimes behaves like an ordinary verb, for example ‘She ~s to know’ and ‘She doesn’t ~ to know’ and sometimes like a modal, for example ‘She ~ know’, ‘She ~n’t know’, or, in more formal English, ‘She ~ not know.’
1.
If you ~ something, or ~ to do something, you cannot successfully achieve what you want or live properly without it.
He desperately ~ed money...
I ~ to make a phone call...
I ~ you to do something for me...
I ~ you here, Wally...
I ~ you sane and sober.
VERB: no cont, V n, V to-inf, V n to-inf, V n adv/prep, V n adj
•
Need is also a noun.
Charles has never felt the ~ to compete with anyone.
...the child who never had his ~ for attention and importance satisfied.
...the special nutritional ~s of the elderly.
N-COUNT: usu with supp, oft N to-inf, N for n
2.
If an object or place ~s something doing to it, that action should be done to improve the object or place. If a task ~s doing, it should be done to improve a particular situation.
The building ~s quite a few repairs.
...a garden that ~s tidying...
The taste of vitamins is not too nice so the flavour sometimes ~s to be disguised.
VERB: no cont, V n/-ing, V n/-ing, V to-inf
3.
If there is a ~ for something, that thing would improve a situation or something cannot happen without it.
Mr Forrest believes there is a ~ for other similar schools throughout Britain...
‘I think we should see a specialist.’—‘I don’t think there’s any ~ for that.’...
There’s no ~ for you to stay.
N-SING: usu with supp, oft N for n, N to-inf
4.
If you say that someone ~n’t do something, you are telling them not to do it, or advising or suggesting that they should not do it.
Look, you ~n’t shout...
She ~ not know I’m here.
MODAL: with neg
•
Need is also a verb.
Come along, Mother, we don’t ~ to take up any more of Mr Kemp’s time.
VERB: no cont, with neg, V to-inf
5.
If you tell someone that they ~n’t do something, or that something ~n’t happen, you are telling them that that thing is not necessary, in order to make them feel better.
You ~n’t worry...
Buying budget-priced furniture ~n’t mean compromising on quality or style...
Loneliness can be horrible, but it ~ not remain that way...
MODAL: with brd-neg
•
Need is also a verb.
He replied, with a reassuring smile, ‘Oh, you don’t ~ to worry about them.’...
You don’t ~ to be a millionaire to consider having a bank account in Switzerland.
VERB: no cont, with neg, V to-inf, V to-inf
6.
You use ~n’t when you are giving someone permission not to do something.
You ~n’t come again, if you don’t want to...
MODAL: with neg
•
Need is also a verb.
You don’t ~ to wait for me...
VERB: no cont, V to-inf
7.
If something ~ not be true, it is not necessarily true or not always true. (FORMAL)
What is right for us ~ not be right for others...
Freedom ~ not mean independence.
MODAL: with neg
8.
If someone ~n’t have done something, it was not necessary or useful for them to do it, although they did it.
I was a little nervous when I announced my engagement to Grace, but I ~n’t have worried...
We spent a hell of a lot of money that we ~n’t have spent.
MODAL: with neg
•
If someone didn’t ~ to do something, they ~n’t have done it.
You didn’t ~ to give me any more money you know, but thank you.
VERB: no cont, with neg, V to-inf
9.
You use ~ in expressions such as I ~ hardly say and I ~n’t add to emphasize that the person you are talking to already knows what you are going to say.
I ~n’t add that if you fail to do as I ask, you will suffer the consequences.
MODAL: oft with brd-neg emphasis
•
Need is also a verb.
I hardly ~ to say that I have never lost contact with him.
VERB: no cont, V to-inf
10.
You can use ~ in expressions such as ‘Need I say more’ and ‘Need I go on’ when you want to avoid stating an obvious consequence of something you have just said.
Mid-fifties, short black hair, grey moustache, distinctive Russian accent. Need I go on?
MODAL
11.
People in ~ do not have enough of essential things such as money, food, or good health.
The education authorities have to provide for children in ~...
Remember that when both of you were in ~, I was the one who loaned you money.
PHRASE: usu v-link PHR
12.
If you are in ~ of something, you ~ it or ought to have it.
I was all right but in ~ of rest...
He was badly in ~ of a shave...
The house was in ~ of modernisation when they bought it.
PHRASE: PHR n
13.
If you say that you will do something, especially an extreme action, if ~ be, you mean that you will do if it is necessary. In British English, you can also say if ~s be.
They will now seek permission to take their case to the House of Lords, and, if ~ be, to the European Court of Human Rights.
PHRASE: PHR with cl
14.
You can tell someone that there’s no ~ for them to do something as a way of telling them not to do it or of telling them to stop doing it, for example because it is unnecessary. (SPOKEN)
There’s no ~ to call a doctor...
‘I’m going to come with you.’—‘Now look, Sue, there’s no ~.’
PHRASE: oft PHR to-inf, PHR for n
15.
You can say ‘Who ~s something?’ as a way of emphasizing that you think that this thing is unnecessary or not useful. (INFORMAL)
With apologies to my old history teacher, who ~s history lessons?...
Cigarettes, who ~s them?
PHRASE: PHR n