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#2 (permalink) Sun Oct 01, 2006 15:13 pm Need |
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Hi,
You say you find it very difficult to use the verb need. Where do all your examples come from?
Alan _________________ English as a Second Language You can read my ESL story The way you write it |
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Alan Co-founder

Joined: 27 Sep 2003 Posts: 9189 Location: UK
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#3 (permalink) Sun Oct 01, 2006 15:23 pm Need |
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I wrote them but I don't know when I should use as modal, when I should use as ordinary verb?
Alandro |
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Alandro255 I'm new here and I like it ;-)
Joined: 14 Sep 2006 Posts: 45
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#4 (permalink) Sun Oct 01, 2006 20:28 pm Need |
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As I see it, the main difference between British and American usage is with the modal form of need: American English does not use needn't: for negative and interrogative forms we use do/does/did with need (simple present/past). I have noted everything that would be natural in American English. Where I wrote "NO", it's just plain wrong:
| alandro255 wrote: |
It's very difficult for me to distinguish the "need" modal with the "need" ordinary verb in American English and in British in English in the sentences as follows:
1/ I don't need to go to class. OK = I needn't to go to class ? 2/ I didn't need to go to class. OK = I needn't have gone to class. ? 3/ Did you need to pay so much? With the correction, OK = Need you have paid so much? ? 4/ I need that book. (modal) Why do you see this as a modal? = I need that book. (ordinary verb) OK 5/ Do you need any help? OK =Need you any help? NO! 6/ She only needs to ask. OK = She needs only to ask. OK = She need only ask. (modal) OK = She only need ask. (modal) ? 7/ Don't have to = don't need (to) OK Don't have to = needn't ? Have to = need (to) OK Must = need (to) The meanings are sometimes the same/similar ? Mustn't = don't need NO! ? Mustn't = needn't NO! |
When used as an "ordinary" verb, need would have an object: - I need some paper. - He didn't need any assistance. - Do you need an alternative solution?. |
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Yankee I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 16 Apr 2006 Posts: 8265 Location: USA
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#5 (permalink) Sun Oct 01, 2006 22:21 pm Need as a modal verb and need as a function verb |
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Hello everybody!
Just one question about the first sentence.
I needn?t to go to class.
Isn?t 'needn?t' a modal verb?
Shouldn?t it be 'I needn?t go to class'?
Thanks a lot!
Jes?s |
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Jesus1 I'm here quite often ;-)
Joined: 20 Apr 2006 Posts: 192
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#6 (permalink) Sun Oct 01, 2006 22:52 pm Need as a modal verb and need as a function verb |
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Hi Jesus
Yes, you're right. That's an error, too.
Amy |
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Yankee I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 16 Apr 2006 Posts: 8265 Location: USA
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#7 (permalink) Mon Oct 02, 2006 5:59 am Need |
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1/You wrote:
a/ I don't need to go to class. OK = I needn't go to class. ? That means "I don't need to go to class" and "I needn't go to class" are correct and have the same meaning. Right? (I ask it because you don't tell me your opinion about "I needn't go to class").
b/
The same,"Did you need to pay so much? " and "Need you have paid so much?" are correct and have the same meaning. Right? (I ask it because you don't tell me your opinion about "I needn't go to class").
2/ Don't have to = needn't . Right?
3/She only need ask. Right?
4/ You wrote: Must = need (to) The meanings are sometimes the same/similar ? What does ? mean? Alandro |
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Alandro255 I'm new here and I like it ;-)
Joined: 14 Sep 2006 Posts: 45
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| No sooner...than vs. Hardly...when | Meaning of opposite, opposing, opposed |