[Grammar] My Needs

[bongiojf]

Which is more correct?

The following table describes which fields need to be populated.
The following table describes which fields need populated.

Can "to be" in the second case be "understood" as a rule? And...
is describes approprieate with or without an "s"?

thanks in advance

 

[billmcd]

Your first example is correct.

 

[Raymott]

Which is more correct?

The following table describes which fields need to be populated.
The following table describes which fields need populated.

Can "to be" in the second case be "understood" as a rule? And...
is describes approprieate with or without an "s"?

thanks in advance

No, the second is wrong, but you can write, "The following table describes which fields need populating."
Here are some more examples:
"Does the dog need to be fed?" = "Does the dog need feeding?"
"Does this form need to be filled out?" = "Does this form need filling out?"