Verb Need

Modal Verb / Its Equivalent		Uses	Present / Future	Past
Need (Need has one form which is used with reference to the present or the future mostly in interrogative and negative sentences which are formed without any auxiliary. The infinitive of the following verb is used without to. Also: Need may be used as a regular verb, i.e. its forms are built up like those of any other notional verb. Then need has three tenses – the present, the past and the future, – but its use is restricted to interrogative and negative sentences. At the same time need retains its modal meaning and is followed by an infinitive with to.)		1. obligation / necessity to do something (in interrogative sentences)	Need they visit the old lady? Need we buy anything else? (Also: Do we need to buy anything else?)
		2. absence of obligation / necessity to do something (in negative sentences)	I’m sure we needn’t come. (Also: I’m sure we don’t need to come.) You needn’t walk to the station. Harry will give you a lift. (Also: You don’t need to walk to the station.)
		3. an action which was performed unnecessarily in the past	I needn’t have taken my umbrella. It isn’t going to rain. (I have taken my umbrella unnecessarily.)	I didn’t need to take an umbrella. It isn’t going to rain
Note:	Need used as a notional verb can take a direct object and in this case it always has the regular forms. He needs a new coat. Did he really need that journal? I’ll need the tape recorder tomorrow.

Exercise 134

Read, translate and comment on the meanings of the modal verb need (obligation / necessity; absence of obligation / necessity; an action which was performed unnecessarily in the past).

1. I was rather afraid that he might act as though we were intimate friends.

But I need not have worried.

2. If you don’t like the dress, you needn’t takeit.

3. I don’t think we need giveher any more of our attention.

4. “Needwegointo all that again?” she asked irritably.

5. You needn’t have walkedthere. You could have taken a bus.

6. You needn’t be afraid oftellingme everything.

7. “I’ve got lots of time. I needn’t gohome for hours,” she said.

8. Our friendship needn’t stop,needit?

9. You needn’t goso early,needyou?

10. I needhardlysaythat your help will be appreciated.

11. “You rest,” she said. “I’ll certainly make the tea. You needn’t have asked

me.”

Exercise 135

Change the following sentences to express absence of necessity. Follow the example.

Example:

• You must stay here till five.

• You needn’t stayhere till five.

1. He must be strict with the child.

2. Jane must wear her new dress.

3. You must tell her brother all about it.

4. You must make an appointment with the doctor today.

5. We must start for the station at once.

6. I must go to the market now.

7. They must stay with their relatives.

8. I must go shopping tomorrow.

9. She must go there on foot.

10. The students must work in the reading room till six.

Exercise 136

Change the following sentences to say an action was performed unnecessarily in the past.Follow the example.

Example:

• They wasted money buying these books. Someone else had already bought some.

• They needn’t have bought them at all.

1. I wonder why they ordered biscuits. They were quite unnecessary.

2. I could never make out why they went in person. They could just as easily

have phoned.

3. What was the point of their having them delivered? There was no need for

it, was there?

4. I don’t see why they commissioned the books. They could have been

bought in the normal way.

5. Why did you bring that subject up? Educated people should be capable of

being objective!

6. “Why did you tell them absolutely everything?” “Probably because I am not

the secretive type.”

7. “Why did you have to be so amusing at my expense?” ”Can’t you take a

joke?”

8. I don’t see why you couldn’t have kept them in stock. There was no point in

selling them off.

9. I got a lift to the station. There was no point in taking a taxi.

10. Sue was feeling a lot better by the weekend, so there was no need for us

to go shopping for her.