needing

[Nightmare85]

Hello,
I learned in school that it's wrong to say:
I'm needing my book right now.
That means it has to be:
I need my book right now.
(If it's actually right...)

However, I often read such things:
You won't be needing this.
(Movies, games, and so on.)

Does this mean the word needing can be used for future 2?
(What's the name of this tense?)
Or can needing be used all the time?
(As the 1st sentence which would be wrong as I learned it...)

Thank you!

Cheers!

 

[DougLewis]

Hello,
I learned in school that it's wrong to say:
I'm needing my book right now.
That means it has to be:
I need my book right now.
(If it's actually right...)

However, I often read such things:
You won't be needing this.
(Movies, games, and so on.)

Does this mean the word needing can be used for future 2?
(What's the name of this tense?)
Or can needing be used all the time?
(As the 1st sentence which would be wrong as I learned it...)

Thank you!

Cheers!

I need my book right now. This is the present tense.
You won't be needing this. This is future tense.
You won't need this. Present tense.

 

[sarat_106]

Hello,
I learned in school that it's wrong to say:
I'm needing my book right now.
That means it has to be:
I need my book right now.
(If it's actually right...)

However, I often read such things:
You won't be needing this.
(Movies, games, and so on.)

Does this mean the word needing can be used for future 2?
(What's the name of this tense?)
Or can needing be used all the time?
(As the 1st sentence which would be wrong as I learned it...)

Thank you!

Cheers!

Need is an interesting verb. It is more often than not, used as an auxiliary(modal) verb (such as can or may) than a main verb.. So you rarely find sentences in continuous or perfect tenses. Even when used as main verb, it takes to before the verb following it, and combines with do in questions, negations, and certain other constructions:
He needs to go. Does he need to go so soon? He doesn't need to go.
But when used as an auxiliary verb, need does not agree with its subject (like modal verb), does not take to before the verb following it, and does not combine with do:
He needn't go.(Not he needs) Need he go so soon?
But unlike can and may, auxiliary need has no form for the past tense like could and might.
Another interesting thing; when we talk about improving things, we can use need with an -ing verb as:
The curtains need washing. You do not say: The curtains are needing washing

 

[Kondorosi]

Hello,
I learned in school that it's wrong to say:
I'm needing my book right now.
That means it has to be:
I need my book right now.
(If it's actually right...)

However, I often read such things:
You won't be needing this.
(Movies, games, and so on.)

Does this mean the word needing can be used for future 2?
(What's the name of this tense?)
Or can needing be used all the time?
(As the 1st sentence which would be wrong as I learned it...)

Thank you!

Cheers!

'need' is a stative verb. Stative verbs are normally not used in continuous tenses, but when they are used thus, they are used in two ways:

1. Give a notion of temporariness or limited duration to the state.
2. Give a notion of development to the state.

You will be needing this. -- 2.