Regular verb
The verb to need
need → needed → needed
A1Meaning: to feel that something is necessary; to have to do something · Type: regular · Frequency: Top 10 English verbs
Key points to remember
- Present Simple:
need / needs - Past Simple:
needed - Past participle:
needed - -ing form:
needing
Conjugation of the verb to need
Present Simple
| I | need |
| You | need |
| He / She / It | needs |
| We | need |
| You (pl.) | need |
| They | need |
Past Simple
| I | needed |
| You | needed |
| He / She / It | needed |
| We | needed |
| You (pl.) | needed |
| They | needed |
All the forms of the verb to need
Present Simple
Full pageneed / needs
“I need help.”
See the pagePresent Continuous
Full pageam / is / are needing
“I need help (not I am needing help).”
See the pagePast Simple
Full pageneeded
“I needed your help.”
See the pagePast Continuous
Full pagewas / were needing
“I needed help (not I was needing help).”
See the pagePresent Perfect
Full pagehave / has needed
“I have always needed help.”
See the pagePast Perfect
Full pagehad needed
“I had never needed help before that day.”
See the pageFuture Simple
Full pagewill need
“I will need help tomorrow.”
See the pageGoing to Future
Full pageam / is / are going to need
“I'm going to need help this weekend.”
See the pageConditional (would)
Full pagewould need
“I would need help if I had more homework.”
See the pageHow to use to need
1. Needing something
Put the noun straight after need, with no preposition.
- I need help.
2. Need to + verb
Use need to + verb for something you must do.
- I need to sleep.
A common mistake
1. I need of help ❌
The verb need takes its object directly, with no preposition: I need help, I need water. Never put of between need and the noun.
Going further
Conjugating to need is a key skill in the English contest
Every year, the Big Challenge tests the key English verbs. Register your students so they can check their level in a real contest.
Register my students5,000 students every year · Primary and secondary
Practise on PLAYYou can conjugate to need. Now say it out loud.
This page explained everything. On PLAY, you practise this verb out loud in 3 minutes, until it comes naturally.
Practise to need on PLAYFree · No sign-up · 3 minutes
For teachersReady-made activities to practise to need in class
The Academy offers self-marking exercises and progress tracking for each student: your class practises, and you see who has got it and who needs more help.
Discover the Academy30-day free trial · No bank card needed
Related pages: need
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
Frequently asked questions
What is the past simple of need?+
Need is a regular verb. Its Past Simple and its past participle are both needed: I needed some help with my homework.
What is the difference between need and want?+
Need means that something is necessary: you cannot do without it. Want means that you would like it, but it is not necessary. Compare: I need some water (I am very thirsty) and I want some chocolate (I would like some).
Is it need to do or need doing?+
When you are the one who does the action, use need to + verb: I need to sleep. I need to study for the test. Need + -ing has a passive meaning (someone must do the action to the thing): The car needs washing means someone must wash the car.
Do you say need or need of?+
Say need + noun, with no preposition: I need help. I need money. I need a new pencil. Never put of after the verb need.
What does needy mean?+
Needy describes someone who wants too much attention or help from other people: He can be a bit needy with his friends. It is a negative word, so be careful: calling someone needy can hurt them.
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/verbs/need
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.