need

Verb patterns 

 You can say that you need to do something 

 I need to clean (NOT I need clean) the house 

If someone else is going to do something for you, you can say that you need something done or need something doing  

 I need my car fixed urgently  

You need your head examining

 When you are talking about the object that is going to have something done to it,  

you can say that it needs something doing or needs something to be done  

My hair needs cutting

 That box needs to be moved =NOT needs moved

Negatives You can say that you don't need to do something or needn't do something  

 I don't need to leave ==NOT don't need leave 

You needn't apologize ==NOT needn't to apologize 

 need not means that it is not necessary to do something.  Do not use it to mean must not =are not allowed to 

You needn't take any money 

 You mustn't take any sharp objects on the plane 

needn't have means that it was not necessary for   

 someone to do something that they in fact did  

Do not use it to mean didn't need to or didn't have to = something was not necessary 

 We needn't have ordered so much food 

I didn't need OR didn't have to tell him who I was - he already knew

Noun patterns The most common noun patterns are a need for something and a need to do something  her need for friendship

a need to preserve the environment 

Say there is a need, not 'it is a need'. Say a need for, not 'a need of' 

There is a desperate need for cash 

You can also use the expression be in need of something  

We are in need of funds =NOT We have a need of funds