Which one is right? ‘I shall do the necessary’ or 'I shall do the needful' Thanks in advance
S sahanav Junior Member Joined Jan 7, 2013 Member Type Student or Learner Native Language English Home Country Netherlands Current Location Netherlands Jan 7, 2013 #1 Which one is right? ‘I shall do the necessary’ or 'I shall do the needful' Thanks in advance
S SoothingDave VIP Member Joined Apr 17, 2009 Member Type Interested in Language Native Language American English Home Country United States Current Location United States Jan 7, 2013 #2 This is an innovation of Indian English. Needful is an adjective. Necessary is most always used as an adjective. I would say "I will do what is necessary" or "I will do the necessary things."
This is an innovation of Indian English. Needful is an adjective. Necessary is most always used as an adjective. I would say "I will do what is necessary" or "I will do the necessary things."
S sahanav Junior Member Joined Jan 7, 2013 Member Type Student or Learner Native Language English Home Country Netherlands Current Location Netherlands Jan 8, 2013 #3 Which means it cannot be used with SHALL is it? Only with will.
bhaisahab Moderator Staff member Joined Apr 12, 2008 Member Type Retired English Teacher Native Language British English Home Country England Current Location Ireland Jan 8, 2013 #4 sahanav said: Which means it cannot be used with SHALL is it? Only with will. Click to expand... You can use it with "shall", it's just that in the US and the UK we tend not to use "shall" very much any more. It's perfectly acceptable in Indian English, as is "do the needful". "Do the necessary", however, is not used.
sahanav said: Which means it cannot be used with SHALL is it? Only with will. Click to expand... You can use it with "shall", it's just that in the US and the UK we tend not to use "shall" very much any more. It's perfectly acceptable in Indian English, as is "do the needful". "Do the necessary", however, is not used.