Defective verbs – Need / ni:d / and Dare.
The ver need is used as a defective verb and as a regular verb.
The defective verb need has only the present tense, takes no -s in the 3rd person singular.
The regular verb o need, unlike the defective need, has all verb forms, and is followed by a to-infinitive, a noun or a pronoun.
need + subject + bare infinitive | do/does + subject + need + to-infinitive |
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Need you go home soon ? | Do you need to go home soon ? |
Need he finish the game? | Does he need to finish the game ? |
Need they fix that ? | Do they need to fix that ? |
subject + need not + bare infinitive | subject + do/does + to-infinitive |
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She needn’t to do that. | She does not need to do that. |
I needn’t to go to work today. | I don’t need to go to work today. |
He needn’t to finish that. | He don’t need to finish that. |
subject + need(s) + noun | subject + need(s) + to-infinitive |
---|---|
She needs new dress. | She needs to buy new dress. |
He needs my help. | He need to call me for help. |
That boy needs a ball. | That boy needs to play football. |
Those constructions can also be applied to the verb dare which may also be a defective or full verb.
Though, unlike need dare is sometimes used as a defective in the past tense as well.
Example of defective verb – Dare
Dare to swim in that river ? | Does she dare to swim in that river ? |
Dare you call her ugly ? | Do you dare to call her ugly ? |
Dared you call her a ugly ? | Did you dare to call her ugly ? |