47
Expressing needs
This chapter deals with different ways of expressing needs. In the sections below you
will learn to express needs in a personal way, through the Spanish equivalent of phrases
such as ‘I have to.. .’, ‘I need to.. .’, ‘we need you to.. .’, ‘they need it’, and also in an
impersonal way through expressions like ‘one has to.. .’, ‘one needs to’, ‘it is
necessary’.47.1 Expressing needs with regard to oneself and others
To express needs or lack of need with regard to onself or others, Spanish normally uses
tener que, ‘to have to’ or necesitar, ‘to need’, in the following constructions, all of
them used in informal and formal registers, with the exception of 47.1.6 below.47.1.1 Tener que+ infinitive
Tener que, ‘to have to’, expresses strong need, almost in the sense of having no
alternative but to do what is implied.Se ha roto, tendré que comprar otro.
It has broken, I’ll have to buy another one.
Tiene que darse prisa, o perderá el tren.
You’ll have to hurry, or you’ll miss the train.Tienes que comer más, estás demasiado delgado.
You have to eat more, you are too thin.21.5 (p. 102); 46.1.1 (p. 272)
47.1.2 Necesitar+ infinitive
Necesitar, ‘to need’, is less frequent than tener que and it conveys need in a more
neutral or slightly mild way.
Necesito hablar con Vd.
I need to talk to you.
Necesitamos mudarnos de aquí.
We need to move from here.Necesitaban trabajar.
You/they needed to work.