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[superslayer18.livejournal.com]

I know that I have been posting in here a lot lately, but I kinda have a new fervor to learn Russian and don't have anyone I can ask in real life all the time. I was wondering about the verb "to need".

I tried looking for it on some translators and nothing happened and I don't know why. When I typed in "I need", it simply said Я. I'm hoping that it isn't like to be, where you don't need to use the verb in the present tense, because that can get really confusing in conversation!

I'm sure that this is one of the basics, but I never learned it. Can someone please explain to me how the verb "to need" works in Russian, and give me the conjugations as well as the infinitive? Thank you!

Comments

[oscar-6.livejournal.com]

to need -- нуждаться

Conjugations:

я нуждаюсь,
ты нуждаешься,
он/она нуждается,
мы нуждаемся,
вы нуждаетесь,
они нуждаются.

But you should keep in mind that use of this verb in Russian differs from use in English. They often use the short form of adjective "нужный" -- "нужен/нужна/нужно" as predicate instead of the verb "нуждаться" (this verb, I'd say, is rather archaic).

E.g.:
I need a new toothbrush -- Мне нужна новая зубная щётка.
I need to go -- Мне нужно идти.

It is also possible to use "требуется" or "необходим" -- when you need to be more exacting.

[superslayer18.livejournal.com]

Thank you! So in common speech I should just use the adjective along with Mne instead of Ya?

[oscar-6.livejournal.com]

Exactly.

[wolfie-18.livejournal.com]

Whoooa hold your horses... Which nuzhna's apply to which gender?

[oscar-6.livejournal.com]

Нужен -- masculine,
нужна -- feminine,
нужно -- neuter (also with verbs).

[wolfie-18.livejournal.com]

So... would the following be correct (considering I'm a guy)

Mnye nuzhyen zoobnaya shchyotka. And...
Mnye nuzhnuh pokupat' zoobnaya shchyotka.

Sorry for the lack of Cyrillic... I'm doing this from another comp...

[oscar-6.livejournal.com]

It's doesn't matter which gender you are. It's a gender of following word that matters. So, it will always be "Мне нужна зубная щётка" ('cause "щётка" is feminine), regardless of who's saying that.

As for your second phrase, it should be "Мне нужно купить зубную щётку". "Покупать" is an imperfective aspect of "купить", while here a perfective aspect should be used. Also you have a mistake with case -- accusative case should be used here.

[wolfie-18.livejournal.com]

*smacks forehead* I keep on forgetting about the cases. Ay yay yay, there's still a long ways to go for me. Thanks for clearing up the genders though. The nuzhnuh question has been on my mind for ages. I always have one question, but then another pops up in the middle... as slayer said, I don't want the learn_russian community to be like... the let_only_wilson_learn_russian community.

[oscar-6.livejournal.com]

IMHO, if you have any question, you should not hesitate and ask it here. After all, that's this community is created for. If there will be many posts from you... well, it will just mean that you're a diligent learner :-)

[superslayer18.livejournal.com]

All verbs are considered neuter?

[oscar-6.livejournal.com]

Yes.

[mooze.livejournal.com]

not quite. verbs do have endings reflecting the gender of a noun they are connected with in a sentence. for ex.:

он пришел
она пришла
они пришли..
оно пришло

[oscar-6.livejournal.com]

We're talking about usage of "нужно" in sentences like "Мне нужно (verb)", not about inflexion of verbs depending on gender.

[welgar.livejournal.com]

Right, the verb "нуждаться" is nearly never used in the same way as English "to need". The form "мне нужен/нужно/нужна" is used instead.
If you are talking about an action you need to do, you may also use the word "надо" instead of "нужно". E.g., "I need to go" is "Мне нужно идти" or "Мне надо идти". I think "надо" is a more informal word while "нужно" is neutral. The formal equivalent is "требуется".

[superslayer18.livejournal.com]

For "I need 'to verb'" in russian, what form should the verb be in? I need to speak, for example. Should it me mne nuxno govarit' or govaryu or what?

[oscar-6.livejournal.com]

In sentences like this one you should use an infinitive.

I need to speak -- Мне нужно говорить.

[superslayer18.livejournal.com]

Thats what I figured. To go wasn't in infinitive up there so i was a bit confused. thanks to everyone!

[oscar-6.livejournal.com]

"Идти" is an infinitive, y'know :-)

[superslayer18.livejournal.com]

Oh really? Gosh I feel stupid now lol! I thought it was a command.

[oscar-6.livejournal.com]

Imperative mode of "идти" is "иди" (2nd person, singular) or "идите" (2nd person, plural).

[flying-snow.livejournal.com]

Right, the verb "нуждаться" is nearly never used in the same way as English "to need".

Just out of curiosity, when would you use that verb?

[oscar-6.livejournal.com]

Well... I'd say, this verb is used when you need to express an extreme need in something.

E.g.:

У меня страшная депрессия, совсем нет сил. Я нуждаюсь в твоей поддержке -- I'm terribly depressed, completely out of spirits. I desperately need your support.

Этот инвалид нуждается в постоянном уходе. -- This disabled person needs constant tendance.

[welgar.livejournal.com]

The verb "нуждаться" is literary, I'd say. You may encounter it in official documents and statements or some books.
E.g., if a hero of a book gets bored of the other's advices, he/she can say "Я не нуждаюсь в твоих советах". He/she could say "Мне не нужны твои советы" as well but this would sound more colloquial.

[lollydoll.livejournal.com]

Get yourself a Babylon (http://www.babylon.com/) dictionary. It's nearly all I stick with. Then to remember the tenses of each verb I use a chart and apply endings to the right use of the word. You'll have more luck than with those online translators.

[nemica.livejournal.com]

мне нужно = I have a need in something / to do something
тебе нужно = you have a need in...
ему нужно = he has a need in...

[moon-aka-sun.livejournal.com]

BTW the same story is about "I like" - "мне нравится".