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Understanding the Verb "Need"

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Iryna Zornytska
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10 views2 pages

Understanding the Verb "Need"

Uploaded by

Iryna Zornytska
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

NEED most often has ordinary verb forms: the third person singular has -s, fthe questions

and
negatives are made with do. Need is usually followed by an infinitive with to.
e.g. Everybody needs to rest sometimes.
Do we need to reserve seats on the train?

NEED as a modal verb usually refers to immediate necessity.


e.g. Need she come tomorrow?

 The negative form NEED NOT is used to say that something is not necessary or there is
no obligation to do it.
e.g. You needn’t take these papers, I have already sent a copy by e-mail.

It is often used to ask for or give permission, usually permissions not to do something.
e.g. It's OK - You needn't I don't need to pay for that phone call.
You don't need to pay for emergency calls in most countries, (NOT YOU needn't pay ... in most
countries.)

 Present tense forms of need are used when making decisions about the future.
e.g. Need I come in tomorrow?
Tell her she doesn't need to work tonight.

 Will need to ... can be used to talk about future obligation, and give advice for the future.
It can make orders and instructions sound less direct.
We'll need to repair the roof next year.
You'll need to start work soon if you want to pass your exams.
You'll need to fill in this form before you see the Inspector.

 Needn’t have done – means that the action was performed but was unnecessary.
e.g. You needn’t have done these sandwiches. No one has eaten any. (зря)

Didn't need to – is used to talk about an unnecessary past action, if someone didn’t do
something because it was unnecessary.
e.g. We didn’t need to make any sandwiches. We knew no one would be hungry.(не было
такой необходимости.)

 Need can also express threat (negative exclamatory sentences).


e.g. You needn’t laugh. It’ll be your turn next.

NB! need not and must not


Need not or do not need to is used to say that there is no obligation; must not is used to say that there is an
obligation not to do something. Compare:
You needn't tell Jennifer - she already knows.
You mustn't tell Margaret - I don't want her to know.
Need not is also sometimes used to say that something is not necessarily true.
She looks quite ill. I'm sure it's flu. ~It needn't be - maybe she's just over over-tiredx.
SHOULD (OUGHT TO) is used to say what is the right thing or the best thing to do.

 Should (ought to)– is used to express logical necessity, obligation as smth. expected.
OUGHT TO can be slightly stronger. Smth. which is right or correct thing to do –should,
morally or socially approved - ought to. We often use should to talk about obligation, duty
and similar ideas. It is less strong than must.
e.g. Everybody should wear car seat belts.
Applications should be sent before December 30th.

SOULD has the additional meaning of «if all goes well»


e.g. There are no reports of delays. The train should be on time.

But we cannot use it to predict that something will go wrong.


e.g. There are reports of delays. The train will probably be late.

 Should have + past participle can be used to talk about past events which did not
happen, or which may or may not have happened. It implies criticism.
e.g. I should have phoned Ed this morning, but I forgot.
You should never have married!

 Should (ought to) expresses probability (present, future).


e.g. The guests shouldn’t come for another hour.
The flowers should grow here well.

 Should (ought to) is used in rhetorical questions (why? how?) – expresses the speaker’s
annoyance, irritation.
e.g. Why should I do it?

 Should (ought to) can be used in exclamatory sentences.


e.g. I got on the bus and who should be sitting in front of me but my ex-wife!

Exclamatory sentences when the speaker wants to amuse the listener by telling what he
experienced or saw.
e.g. You should see him when he first gets up in the morning.(ты бы его видел!)

 Advice, asking for advice ( here OUGHT TO is more common)


e.g. You really ought to see the doctor.

NB! Must is stronger than should/ought


Must has similar meanings to should and ought, but is stronger or more definite. It expresses great confidence that
something will happen, something is true; should and ought express less confidence. Compare:
e.g. The doctor said I must give up smoking.
(an order which is likely to be obeyed)
[Link] really ought to give up smoking.
(a piece of advice which may or may not be followed)

Common questions

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'Ought to' is slightly stronger than 'should' when expressing logical necessity or what the speaker considers the right or best course of action . 'Ought to' carries a moral or socially approved connotation, indicating a stronger expectation that the action will meet some standard of correctness. For instance, "You really ought to see the doctor" implies a more pressing recommendation than using 'should' .

When 'need' is used as a modal verb, it refers to an immediate necessity, indicating that something must be done presently or very soon . This usage lessens the forcefulness of the obligation compared to 'must' and allows for slight flexibility in perceiving the necessity's immediacy. Additionally, the negative form 'need not' is used to express that there is no necessity or obligation to perform an action .

'Should have + past participle' is employed to discuss past actions that were not completed but are now considered an error, reflecting criticism or regret . This structure implies that the correct or expected action was overlooked, as in 'I should have phoned Ed this morning, but I forgot,' indicating a missed obligation or missed action .

In rhetorical questions, 'should' shifts from expressing obligation or probability to conveying the speaker’s irritation or annoyance. This use of 'should' injects emotion into the question by highlighting dissatisfaction or disbelief regarding the situation, for instance, 'Why should I do it?' . The rhetorical nature implies that the speaker does not expect a literal answer but instead communicates their displeasure or disagreement with the scenario.

The phrase 'needn’t have done' implies that an action was carried out in the past, but it was unnecessary or redundant in hindsight . This reflects that effort or resources were spent on an action that wasn't required, for instance, "You needn’t have done these sandwiches. No one has eaten any," highlighting a lack of necessity after the fact . It conveys a sense of redundancy or unneeded effort.

'Should' and 'ought to' can express the likelihood of an event when used in sentences indicating expected outcomes, although these outcomes are not guaranteed . For example, statements such as 'The guests shouldn’t come for another hour' or 'The flowers should grow here well' imply probability without asserting certainty, expressing belief in expected future occurrences .

'Should' conveys probability by expressing an expectation based on current knowledge or circumstances, without guaranteeing the outcome . It suggests a reasonable assumption that something will happen, for example, "The train should be on time," indicating an expectation but allowing for uncertainty . This conveys less definiteness than 'will', which indicates a higher level of certainty about future events.

While both 'should' and 'must' express a sense of obligation, 'must' conveys a stronger and more definitive sense of necessity or requirement . 'Must' implies that the speaker is confident the action will or should occur, as seen with "The doctor said I must give up smoking," implying a non-negotiable order. In contrast, 'should' suggests a recommendation with less urgency and certainty, such as "You really ought to give up smoking," which implies advice that may or may not be acted upon .

'Will need to' is used for discussing future obligations and can soften the directive tone of statements, making instructions less direct . It often conveys advice or highlights actions necessary for future outcomes, such as "You'll need to start work soon if you want to pass your exams," where it suggests a preparatory action to meet forthcoming requirements . This creates a collaborative tone, suggesting preparatory measures rather than direct commands or ultimatums.

'Need not' indicates that there is no obligation to perform a certain action; it is a choice without compelling necessity . Conversely, 'must not' signifies a strong obligation not to perform an action, often reflecting a rule or restriction. Where 'You needn't tell Jennifer' suggests no requirement to inform Jennifer, 'You mustn't tell Margaret' communicates a strict prohibition against telling Margaret .

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