In English to
need can be used as a full verb or also as a
modal verb.
To
need as a full verb
I need three kilos of rice. = Necesito
tres kilos de arroz.
To need as full verb
is in Spanish necesitar.
need
as modal verb in English
I need to buy new shoes.
I need to go to the toilet.
In Spanish there is no modal verb need. Necesitar can be used as modal verb. If you want to express the
need to do something it can be done with hace
falta.
need
as modal verb
I need to buy new shoes. = Hace
falta que compro nuevos zapatos.
I need to go to my parent's house. =
Hace falta que voy a la casa de mis padres.
When constructing negative clauses like you
do not need to buy new shoes every week, which
is actually the same as you
do not have to buy shoes every week. The Spanish
use either no hace falta
or tener que.
Example:
negative clauses
No tengo
que nadar.
= No hace falta
que nade.
= I do not have to swim. = I do not need to
swim. No tengo
que decírselo.
= No hace falta
que se lo diga.
= I do not have to swim. = I do not need to
swim. No tiene
que hacerlo
si no quiere. =No hace
falta que
lo haga.
= He doesn't have to do it, if he doesn't
want to. = He doesn't need to do it.
