English grammar
Needs + -ing (= needs to be done); faces, in good/bad condition
Describe a flat: what it faces, what state it's in, and what needs doing.
From the scene It faces the square
In short
Thing + needs + -ing means it needs to be done: the kitchen needs renovating. A person needs to + verb.
Your turn
Which one goes with just needs + -ing?
Options: the kitchen needs renovating · we need to paint the bathroom · it just needs painting
Show answer
just needs + -ing → it just needs painting
How it works
Needs + -ing has a passive meaning: the kitchen needs renovating = the kitchen needs to be renovated.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
The big window (blank) the square.
Options: looks · sees · faces
Show answer
The big window faces the square.
La ventana grande da a la plaza.
Good to know
When a person does the job, use need to + verb: we need to renovate the kitchen. To describe a flat: it faces the square, it's in bad condition.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
And the bathroom? Does it need (blank) too?
Options: renovate · to renovate · renovating
Show answer
And the bathroom? Does it need renovating too?
¿Y el baño? ¿También hay que reformarlo?
thing + needs + -ing the kitchen needs renovating
just needs + -ing it just needs painting
Ramón
The bathroom is better. It just needs painting.
El baño está mejor. Solo hay que pintarlo.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
The bathroom is better. (blank).
Options: It just needs painting · The kitchen needs renovating · We need to paint the bathroom
Show answer
Ramón
The bathroom is better. It just needs painting.
El baño está mejor. Solo hay que pintarlo.
person + needs to + verb we need to paint the bathroom
describing the flat it faces the square / it's in bad condition
Your turn
What goes with it faces the square / it's in bad condition?
Options: thing + needs + -ing · just needs + -ing · describing the flat
Show answer
it faces the square / it's in bad condition → describing the flat
Common mistake
Not renovate or to renovate here. Passive meaning: someone has to work on it.
The kitchen... is in bad condition. It needs renovating.
La cocina... está en mal estado. Hay que reformarla.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
So we need (blank) the kitchen and paint the bathroom.
Clue: we do the job
Options: to renovate · renovating · renovate
Show answer
So we need to renovate the kitchen and paint the bathroom.
Entonces hay que reformar la cocina y pintar el baño.
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| thing + needs + -ing | the kitchen needs renovating |
|---|---|
| just needs + -ing | it just needs painting |
| person + needs to + verb | we need to paint the bathroom |
| describing the flat | it faces the square / it's in bad condition |
More lines from the story
- RamónThe big window faces the square.La ventana grande da a la plaza.
- RamónThe kitchen... is in bad condition. It needs renovating.La cocina... está en mal estado. Hay que reformarla.
- NuriaAnd the bathroom? Does it need renovating too?¿Y el baño? ¿También hay que reformarlo?
- JaviSo we need to renovate the kitchen and paint the bathroom.Entonces hay que reformar la cocina y pintar el baño.
- NuriaHow lovely! I love that view.¡Qué bien! Me encanta esa vista.