mẫu ngữ pháp · neutral

need + V-ing / need + to + V

Band 5-6speakingtask2

when the subject is a thing: it requires an action (need + V-ing); when the subject is a person: they must do something (need + to + V)

Examples

“The kitchen needs cleaning before our guests arrive.”

“I need to finish this report by tonight.”

“This phone needs charging.”

Band 8 sentence

“Although the flat looks tidy, the carpets need cleaning after the renovation.”

Collocations

  • need + V-ing (the house needs painting)
  • need + to + V (I need to paint the house)

Word family

need verbneed noun

Common mistakes

My car needs to wash.→My car needs washing.

I need washing my hair.→I need to wash my hair.

Say it for a higher band

5need + V-ing used everywhere→6need to + V in all cases→7+need + V-ing / need + to + V (use depends on the subject)

Synonyms

require + V-ing / require + that + clause

Easily confused

need to + V

“I need to submit the application by Friday.”

Related words

look forward to + V-ingtry + V-ing / try to + Vfor + somebody + to + Vavoid + V-ingbe likely to + Vbegin / start + V-ing / to + Vprevent + somebody + from + V-ingturn out + to + V

Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.

In Gerunds & infinitives

Learn it with its set