The verb “need’’ deals with the meanings required, and want can be used in the present, past, or future tense. Now, let us see the usage of “need’’ in various tense forms.
The verb form “needs’’ is formed by adding the “s’’ with the root word “need” while making a sentence in the simple present tense in which the subject is in the third person singular number. The other forms are “needing’’, the present participle, and “needed’’, past and past participle forms.
Now, let us explain more amazing facts regarding the usage of “need” in the three tenses along with relevant examples and their explanations.
“Need’’ in the present tense.
An action that happens or happens at present is called present tense. Now, let us explain the acts of “need’’ in the present tense.
We use the verb “need’’ in the present tense to refer to a condition requiring relief for having some lack.
When can we use “need’’ in the present tense?
We use the word “need’’ when we need to present the scarcity of something that lacks something desirable or useful. We can use the verb when an infinitive follows it.
Sentence structure of “need’’ in the present tense-
Type of present tense | Rule to form a sentence with “need’’ in the present tense |
1. Present indefinite tense/ Simple present tense | a. Subject + need/needs + object + remaining part (assertive sentence) b. Do or does + subject (any person or animal) + mean + object +? (interrogative sentence) |
2. Present continuous tense/ Present progressive tense | a. Subject + am/is/are + verb (need)+ing + object + rest(assertive sentence) b. Am/is/are + subject + need (verb) +ing + object + rest +? (interrogative sentence) |
3. Present perfect tense | a. Subject (any person or animal)+ has/have + needed + object + rest (assertive sentence) b. Has/have + subject (any person or animal) + needed + object + rest +?(interrogative sentence) |
4. Present perfect continuous tense/ Present perfect progressive tense | a. Subject + has/have + been + need(verb) +ing + object + rest (statement) b. Has/have + been + subject (any person or animal)+ needing + object + rest (question) |
Examples and explanations with the usage of “need’’ in the present tense-
Type of present tense | Example | Explanation |
1. Present indefinite tense/ Simple present tense | My friend needs my help when he falls into trouble. | Here the verb “needs’’ is applied to show want of help. We see that my friend needs my help when he falls into trouble. |
2. Present continuous tense/ Present progressive tense | Bablu is needing the teacher’s assistance to work out the sums. | The term “is needing’’ forms the continuous action in which we find out that Bablu is needing the teacher’s assistance to work out the sums. |
3. Present perfect tense | You have needed some money to purchase a new brand car. | Here the verb “have needed’’ has been used to refer to an action in which you have needed some money to purchase a new brand car. |
4. Present perfect continuous tense/ Present perfect progressive tense | The girl has been needing a pen to write with for half an hour. | Here we see that an ongoing activity is mentioned. We find that The girl has been needing a pen to write with for half an hour. |
“Need’’ in the past tense.
A past tense is one of the tense forms that give the previous actions. Here we will discuss how the verb “need’’ acts in the past tense.
We can use the verb “need’’ in the past tense to show the requirement of anything for the fulfillment of dearth in any situation.
When can we use “need’’ in the past tense?
The verb “need’’ in its past form “needed” can definitely be applied in a sentence when we need to indicate our lack of something in the past. The verb “needed” “needing” are used along with was/were, had, and had been to show the requirement in the past.
Sentence structure and formation of “need’’ in the past tense-
Type of past tense | Rules to form a sentence with “need’’ in the past tense |
1. Past indefinite tense/ Simple past tense | a. Subject + needed (past form) + object + rest of the sentence (statement) b. Did + subject + need + object + rest of the sentence+? (question) |
2. Past continuous tense/ Past progressive tense | a. Subject + was/were(helping verb) + need(verb) +ing + object + remaining part of the sentence(statement) b. Was/were (helping verb)+ subject + need (verb) + ing + object + remaining part of the sentence(question) |
3. Past perfect tense | a. Subject + had + needed + object + rest of the sentence(statement) b. Had + subject + needed + object + rest of the sentence +?(question) |
4. Past perfect continuous tense/ past progressive tense | a. Subject + had + been + need ( verb) +ing + object + rest of the sentence(statement) b. Had + subject + been + needing + object + rest +?(question) |
Examples and explanations of “need’’ in the past tense-
Type of past tense | Example | Explanation |
1. Past indefinite tense/ Simple past tense | The teacher needed the students to decorate the school compound during Saraswati Puja. | Here the verb “needed’’ is used to refer to the requirement of the teacher. we have seen that the teacher needed the students to decorate the school compound during Saraswati Puja. |
2. Past continuous tense/ Past progressive tense | Our house was needing to repair ago because it was in ruins. | Here the verb “was needing’’ is used to refer to an ongoing action of the past. We find that our house was needing to repair ago because it was in ruins. |
3. Past perfect tense | Nandini had needed to answer the question before Soma could reply to it. | In this scenario, the verb “had needed’’ frames a sentence in which the requirement was wanted before anyone could reply to it. We find that Nandini had needed to answer the question before Soma could reply to it. |
4. Past perfect continuous tense/ Past perfect progressive tense | The authority had been needing the names of the persons for a year who did complain. | Here we find out the ongoing action of the past. It is seen that The authority had been needing the names of the persons for a year who did complain. |
“Need’’ in the future tense.
The verb that presents the actions of the future is called the action of the future tense. Here let us check how the verb “need’’ works in the future tense.
We can use the verb “need’’ in the future tense for saying whether it is necessary for a particular situation to exist.
When do we use “need’’ in the future tense?
We use the verb “need” to display the actions in the future tense when we need to mention the emphasis for something that should be done. We must use the verb “need” along with shall/will, shall/will have, and shall/will have been to present the requirement in the future.
Sentence structure of “need’’ in the future tense-
Type of future tense | How to form a sentence with “need’’ in the future tense |
1. Future indefinite tense/ Simple future tense | a. Subject + shall/will + need + object + remaining part(statement) b. Shall/will + subject + need + object + remaining part +?(question) |
2. Future continuous tense/ Future progressive tense | a. Subject + shall/will + be + need (verb) + ing + object + remaining part (statement) b. Shall/will + subject + be + need (verb) + ing + object + remaining part +?(question) |
3. Future perfect tense | a. Subject + shall/will + have + needed + object + remaining part (statement) b. Shall/will + subject + have + needed + object + remaining part +?(question) |
Future perfect continuous tense/ Future perfect progressive tense | Subject + shall/will + have + been + needing + object + remaining part Shall/will + subject + have + been + needing + object + remaining part |
Examples and explanations with the verb “need’’ in the future tense-
Type of future tense | Example | Explanation |
1. Future indefinite tense/ Simple future tense | Kamal will need his brother’s bi-cycle tomorrow as his bi-cycle is punctured. | In this sentence, we see that the requirement will need in the future. We see that Kamal will need his brother’s bi-cycle tomorrow as his bi-cycle is punctured. |
2. Future continuous tense/ Future progressive tense | Suman will be needing badly the new shirt for the festival. | Here the verb “will be needing’’ is used to refer to an ongoing requirement for a new shirt. We see that Suman will be needing badly a new shirt for the festival. |
3. Future perfect tense | I will have needed someone to stand by me in my trouble. | The example deals with the verb “will have needed’’ which shows the future activities in which we see that I will have needed someone to stand by me in my trouble. |
4. Future perfect continuous tense/ Future perfect progressive tense | The spectators will have been needing to watch the songs of the famous musician for some time. | Here the verb “will have been needing’’ acts to mention the need for the song for a period of time span in the future. We see that The spectators will have been needing to watch the songs of the famous musician for some time. |
Conclusion
At the end of this article, we mention that we can make phrases with the verb “need’’ such as “need I say more?’’, “Need you to ask?’’, “Who needs something’’, etc. We can also use this verb form as a noun as per our requirement while referring to our desire. The verb “need’’ also acts as a modal auxiliary verb.
Hi…. I am Goutam Datta. I have completed a double M. A. in English and B. Ed. I am a creative writer. Currently, I am a part of the LambdaGeeks.