Why Necesitar Has Company
Necesitar is the obvious verb for need, but Spanish also uses hacer falta, and each one has its own frames. Learn them together and you can ask, offer, and decline politely. For its cousin of desire, see [Querer] Chunks.
Pattern 1: Necesito + noun / infinitive — "I need"
The direct frame. It takes a noun or an infinitive with no preposition.
- Necesito un café. — I need a coffee.
- Necesito descansar. — I need to rest.
- ¿Necesitas algo? — Do you need anything?
Chunk to learn:
Necesito + [noun / infinitive]
Pattern 2: Necesito que + subjunctive — "I need you to"
When the need involves another person acting, use que and the subjunctive. See Subjunctive Chunks.
- Necesito que me ayudes. — I need you to help me.
- Necesito que vengas pronto. — I need you to come soon.
- ¿Necesitas que te lleve? — Do you need me to drive you?
Chunk to learn:
Necesito que + [subjunctive]
Pattern 3: Si necesitas algo, dímelo — Offering help
The friendly offer. Lo que necesites keeps the tone open.
- Si necesitas algo, dímelo. — If you need anything, tell me.
- Lo que necesites, avísame. — Whatever you need, let me know.
- Cualquier cosa que necesites, aquí estoy. — Anything you need, I'm here.
Chunk to learn:
Si necesitas algo, + [dímelo / avísame]
Pattern 4: Se necesita — "Needed"
The impersonal form for ads and requirements. Make it plural with the noun: se necesitan.
- Se necesita experiencia. — Experience required.
- Se necesitan voluntarios. — Volunteers needed.
- Se necesita paciencia. — Patience is needed.
Chunk to learn:
Se necesita(n) + [noun]
Pattern 5: Me hace falta — "I lack / I need"
Hacer falta works like gustar: the thing needed is the subject and the person is an indirect object.
- Me hace falta tiempo. — I need more time.
- Nos hacen falta ideas. — We need ideas.
- Hace falta ser valiente. — You need to be brave.
Chunk to learn:
Me / Te / Nos hace(n) falta + [noun]
Pattern 6: No hace falta — "There's no need"
The polite way to decline an offer or say something is unnecessary.
- —¿Te ayudo? —No hace falta. — "Shall I help?" "No need."
- No hace falta que vengas. — There's no need for you to come.
- No hacía falta. — You shouldn't have. / It wasn't necessary.
Chunk to learn:
No hace falta (que + [subjunctive])
Ask, Offer, Decline
Need appears in requests, offers, ads, and polite refusals. Learn the frames and you can handle each situation. For duty and obligation, see [Deber] Chunks.
Start with necesito que… and no hace falta. You will use both the next time you speak Spanish.
This post is part of the Spanish Chunk Series — a growing collection of chunk patterns for natural Spanish.