MODAL VERBS: NEED NEED

NEED IN THE PRESENT TENSE POSITIVE: I need to brush up my English. NEGATIVE: DON’T NEED TO is generally used when the situation does not require something to be done: You don’t need to have your passport to go to London. Negative: NEEDN’T is generally used when the speaker gives the authority for something not being done: You needn’t come to the Halloween party.

NEED IN THE PAST POSITIVE: I needed something to drink. NEGATIVE: DIDN’T NEED TO + INFINITIVE: It wasn’t necessary, so I didn’t: I didn’t need to come to The Official Language School yesterday. NEEDN’T HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE: It wasn’t necessary, but I did, and now I realize that it wasn’t necessary: I needn’t have come at 4 in the afternoon as our lessons start at 5 in the afternoon this year.

NEED + A GERUND Need can be used plus a gerund, with the same meaning as a passive construction: My house needs refurbishing or My house needs to be refurbished.