Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Usage of a verb " to need" with to-infinitive or -ing form: change in meanings




The Cambridge dictionary says that the meaning of a verb "to need" can change depending on what you have used after it: to-infinitive or -ing form.



I haven't comprehended it completely. Could someone, please, give me any examples of this change in meanings.



P.S.: is this related to a fact that need can be sometimes in a role of a semi-modal verb?


Answer



"You need to correct your ways." means that the speaker thinks that you need to change something in yourself. "You need correcting." means that the speaker wants to change you himself.


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