Grammar Question – need

Grammar Question – need

I would like to ask you if you can explain to me the verb “need”.
The more sources I check, the more confused I get. My problem is that
I’m not sure if that verb is ever used as a modal verb. I have actually
never heard of anybody using this verb as a modal verb but on the other
hand, some websites and some grammar books i checked say that “need”
belongs to modal verbs. I know for sure that Shakespeare used it that
way, but…
Please explain it to me.

Now that’s a difficult question you have asked 😉

Need can be both an ordinary and a modal verb.

However,

• the modal form is rarely used in American English
• the modal form is not used in the positive form – only in negatives, with certain ‘negative words’ and questions
• the modal form is only used in the present

Here are some good examples of the modal form.

Nobody need know what happened.
I hardly need tell you that what you did was wrong.
You needn’t come. It’s not important.
Need I say any more?

Of course, the exact same ideas can be expressed using the ordinary verb.

Nobody needs to know what happened.
I don’t really need to tell you what you did was wrong.
You don’t need to come. it’s not important.
Do I need to say more?

The modal verb is more often used when we are talking about a personal necessity and not an obligation posed from outside.

So it’s better (at least in British English) to say

You needn’t apologise. It’s fine.
Need I come? (You are hoping the answer will be ‘no’.)