Usage of need

Daemon99 · #1 (permalink) Tue May 20, 2008 11:50 am *Usage of need*

Is the following sentence correct?

1) The file need not change.

Please help.
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Non-native speaker of English
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I intend to live forever - so far, so good.

Molly · #2 (permalink) Tue May 20, 2008 11:56 am *Usage of need*

Daemon99 · #3 (permalink) Tue May 20, 2008 11:57 am *Usage of need*

But file is singular, isn't it? Is it still OK?
_________________
Non-native speaker of English
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I intend to live forever - so far, so good.

Molly · #4 (permalink) Tue May 20, 2008 12:06 pm *Usage of need*

Yes, it's OK.

"Need" is not a full-verb in your example but is a marginal modal, and therefore does not take "s".

Imagine:

*you musts do it

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