Need + verb-ing

Wish + Past Perfect



This area provides you with easy to follow examples of Grammar in Use.

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Need + verb-ing

Sometimes it's useful to talk about fixing or improving things, but without saying who is going to do it. To do this, we can use need + verb-ing.
To talk about fixing or improving things, you can use need with an -ing verb. There are three parts to this structure.
First, you name the thing – my hair, or the car, or my shoes. Then you say 'need' - or 'needs' - and finally, a verb with –ing.
Positive

subject	need(s)	verb-ing
My hair	needs	cutting
The curtains	need	washing

Negative

subject	doesn't / don't	need	verb -ing
My hair	doesn't	need	cutting
The curtains	don't	need	washing

Question

do/does	subject	need	verb -ing
Does	my hair	need	cutting?
Do	the curtains	need	washing?