Need or Needed?

[piggy386]

It was because he knew you needed someone to look after.

I'm confused that whether I should you use "need" or "needed" in the above sentence.

 

[NewHope]

I am inclined to use "need"

Words like "see", "hear", "know" should be followed by the archetype of a verb.

Still, I'd wait MM, Tdol, Natalie... to confirm this.

 

[Steven D]

It was because he knew you needed someone to look after.

I'm confused that whether I should you use "need" or "needed" in the above sentence.

In spoken language we might hear "need". However, "needed - past form" is correct because it follows the first verb "knew", which is the past.

We can say the past "needed" is correct. However, if this is a fact or something that is true at present, some could end up having a difficult time understanding why "needed", a past form, is correct.

Use "needed". That could apply to past or present. One could still "need someone to look after" even though the simple past "needed" is used. The sentence would simply be referring to an event or conversation in the past. However, what is stated in the sentence would still be understood as being true now if that is the case.

It was because he knew you needed someone to look after.

Still, I wouldn't be surprised if you heard the simple present used in a sentence such as this.

http://www.aaronshep.com/stories/002.html

But Nonny didn’t mind any of it, because he knew you need armor to fight dragons.

http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewpoetry.asp?AuthorID=7009&id=95378

yes, He knew you need a friend just like her too!