need(需要)
的用法与dare几乎完全相同。即在否定句或疑问句中,和其他情态动词一样,本身无变化,后面用不带to的动词不定式;在肯定句中时,和实义动词一样,后面的动词不定式要带to,第三人称单数现在一般时加-s,并有时态的变化。如:
Need we return the magazines today?我们今天需要把杂志还回去吗?
Every member needs to pay only a little money a year to get medical care.每个成员每年只需缴一点钱就可以得到医疗。
You need not write down your translation. You may do it orally. 你们不必写下这个翻译练习,口头做就行了。
[注]与dare一样,在否定句或疑问句里,need也可和实义动词相同,用助动词to do来帮助,后面的动词不定式必须带to。如:
Do they need to take any tools with them? -No., they don't need to.他们需要带工具吗? --不需要。
He did not need to go there early that day. 那天他不必早去。
need后面有名词作宾语时
完全用作实义动词,表示"需要"或"缺乏"某件事物。这时,它的变化和一般实义动词完全相同。如:
I need a dictionary.我需要字典。
You need a hair-cut. 你该理发了。
Do you need a fountain-pen? 你需要一支自来水笔吗?
I don't need a new jacket. 我不需要一件新茄克衫。
Mary looks tried,she needs a rest. 玛丽看上去累了,需要休息。
Needn't后加动词不定式(不带to)的完成式时
指过去已做了但勿须做的动作。如:
You needn't have watered the vegetables,as it is going to rain.你满可以不必浇菜,天要下雨了。
You needn't have brought your umbrella. We are going by taxi你满可以不必带伞,我们要坐出租汽车去。
[注一]注意didn't have to和didn't nee to则常表示过去未做也勿须做的动作。如:
I didn't have to interpret it for her,for she knows Chinese.我勿须为她翻译,她懂汉语。
I didn't need to take a taxi; it is only five minutes walk to the station.到车站只须走五分钟,我不需要坐出租汽车。
[注二] used to和had better也可看作是情态动词。情态动词used to表示过去的习惯,但现在已无此习惯(would表过去习惯时则无此含义)。如:
When I was young,I used to play football.我小时常踢足球。
He didn't use to come. (或用usedn't to)他过去不常来。
Did he used to come? (亦可说used he to...?)他过去常来吗?had better表可取,意为"应该"或"最好"。如:
We had better go now. 我们最好走吧。
You'd better stop now.你现在应该停下来。(对长辈不可用had better)
Hadn't we better go now? 我们现在走不好吗?(had better一般不用于肯定疑问句)