Need + Gerund vs Infinitive

The verb need is a bit of a shapeshifter. When you follow it with to and a verb, it is active. This means the subject is doing the work. When you follow it with a gerund (the -ing form), it feels passive. The subject is receiving the action. Think of it as a perspective shift. You can focus on the person acting. Or you can focus on the thing that needs help. It is a common way to talk about repairs. It is also great for chores and maintenance. Even native speakers mix these up sometimes. But don't worry. Once you see the pattern, it is quite simple.

1. 1There are two main ways to build these sentences. Follow these steps to get it right every time:
2. 2Active Pattern: [Subject] + [need/needs] + [to + base verb].
3. 3Example: I need to fix the sink.
4. 4Use this when the subject is the one doing the work.
5. 5Passive-Meaning Pattern: [Subject] + [need/needs] + [verb + -ing].
6. 6Example: The sink needs fixing.
7. 7Use this when the subject is the thing being fixed.
8. 8The Formal Alternative: [Subject] + [need/needs] + [to be + past participle].
9. 9Example: The sink needs to be fixed.
10. 10This means the same thing as the -ing version. It just sounds a bit more serious.

Use the need + -ing pattern for things that cannot act themselves. Think about your car, your house, or your hair. These things don't "do" actions. They have actions done to them.

• Real-world scenario: You are at a car mechanic. You say, "The brakes need checking." This is better than saying "I need to check the brakes" if you want the mechanic to do it.
• Real-world scenario: You are at a job interview. You might say, "This department needs organizing." It shows you see a problem that needs a solution.
• Real-world scenario: Ordering food. You might tell a waiter, "This steak needs cooking a bit more." It is a polite way to point out a problem without blaming a specific person.

Do not use need + -ing when the subject is a person who must act. If you say, "I need washing," people might think you need a bath! Usually, you mean "I need to wash."

• Avoid it for abstract desires. You cannot say "I need loving." (Well, you can in a song, but not in a grammar test!).
• Don't use it for emotions. "I need to feel happy" is correct. "I need feeling happy" is not.
• Avoid it when the action is not a repair or a chore. "The book needs reading" is okay, but "The movie needs watching" sounds a bit strange.

The biggest mistake is mixing up the subject and the action. If you say, "The car needs to wash," you are saying the car has hands and a sponge. It sounds like a scene from a cartoon movie!

• ✗ Wrong: "My hair needs to cut."
• ✓ Correct: "My hair needs cutting."
• ✗ Wrong: "I need fixing the door."
• ✓ Correct: "I need to fix the door."

Another mistake is forgetting the s for third-person subjects. Remember: He needs, She needs, It needs. Even if the next word ends in -ing, the main verb need must follow normal tense rules. Think of it like a grammar traffic light. It tells you when to go and when to stop.

You might know the phrase want + -ing. In some parts of the UK and US, people say, "The carpet wants hoovering." This is very informal. It means the same as needs hoovering. However, need is much more common globally.

Also, compare this to have to. I have to clean the floor is a strong obligation. The floor needs cleaning is more about the state of the floor. One is a command. The other is an observation. It is like the difference between a boss shouting and a friend pointing at a mess.