'Need to' can also be used in negative and interrogative utterances:
I need to go to the office tomorrow.
I don't need to go to the office tomorrow.
I needn't go to the office tomorrow.
I don't think I need (to) go to the office tomorrow,
Need you go to the office tomorrow?
Do you need to go to the office tomorrow/
Thank you, 5jj.
I wholeheartedly agree with you.
I should have said (=What I meant was) "'Need' as a modal should be avoided in affirmative statements/sentences." or "'Need to' should be used (instead of 'need' as a modal) in affirmative statements/sentences."
For example:
'need' as a modal
1. I needn't go to the office tomorrow. - Negative, therefore it's correct.
2. Need I go to the office tomorrow? - Interrogative, therefore it's correct.
3. I need go to the office tomorrow. - Affirmative, therefore it's questionable/probably incorrect - it should be "I need
to go to..."
However, "I don't think I need go to the..." is fine. It is probably because it begins with 'I don't think...', which is negative.
Could you check if I understand it correctly, please?
Thank you.