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Unit 14: Need + verb-ing
Tim's irregular verb tips

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Session 1

Learn a form that we use when something needs to be done, but we don't say who needs to do it! Finn explains all in 90 seconds...

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    Activity 1
  1. Activity 1

Activity 1

What do you need doing?

Need + verb-ing

The studio is a real mess - and Finn's not happy! He says: "This studio needs tidying!"

And in fact, that sentence is an example of the form he teaches you in this video. We call it need + verb-ing. But when and why do we use it? As usual, Finn has only 90 seconds to explain!

Watch the video and complete the activity

Show transcript Hide transcript

Finn
Where's my script? Come on. This studio needs tidying!

Finn here with another BBC English Class. And did you hear what I just said? "This studio needs tidying". Not I need to tidy this studio. Now, why did I say it the other way round? Let's find out in 90 seconds.

In it goes. So, why did I say: "This studio needs tidying"? Well, this is a particular structure. Let's give the structure a name. Let's call it 'Ken'. No, let's call it need + verb-ing and we use it when something needs to be done but we don't want to say the person who needs to do it. Because maybe it doesn't matter. Or maybe we don't know. Or maybe it's more polite.

OK, let's first… we'll get there in a minute… let's look at some examples first. For example:

This studio needs tidying
My hair needs cutting
My shirt needs washing

So, what do we do? We have first the noun – my shirt - then need or needs and finally the verb in the ing form – washing.

So, let's give another example. For example, I'm your boss, you're writing a report and I don't want to say: "You need to finish that report" because it sounds a bit too direct. I can just say "That report needs finishing". See, it's a little bit less bossy. And my shirt: as you know it stinks, so I could say… well let me just say: "My shirt needs washing". Because you know it doesn't matter if I wash it or you wash it or if Ken washes it or whoever washes it. So there we are – 90 seconds. All that remains is to decide who needs to wash my shirt. I'm not doing it.

Summary

We use this form when we talk about something that must be done, but we choose not to say who needs to do it.

This is often because the person who needs to do it is unknown, obvious or unimportant.

We usually use this form to talk about fixing or improving things.

The form is:

noun + need/s + verb-ing

  • This studio needs tidying.
  • My hair needs cutting.
  • My shirt needs washing.
  • His room doesn't need painting.
  • Does the house need cleaning?

To do

How well did you understand the video? Try the quiz to practise need + verb-ing.

need + verb-ing

5 Questions

In each question choose the best option to complete each sentence.

Congratulations you completed the Quiz
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End of session

Well done, that's the end of this session!

Next

Coming up in Session 2 we examine the language of news and current affairs in News Review.

Session Grammar

  • noun + need/s + verb-ing

    This studio needs tidying.

    My hair needs cutting.

    My shirt needs washing.

    His room doesn't need painting.

    Does the house need cleaning?

View full grammar reference

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