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Glossary entry

English term or phrase:

need vs needs

English answer:

singular, acting like a collective noun

Added to glossary by Yvonne Gallagher
Aug 11, 2021 17:48
3 yrs ago
46 viewers *
English term

need vs needs

English Art/Literary General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters singular vs plural
Why "areas of need", not "areas of needs" while there are many needs actually in the context of education/pedagogy - for instance, not one exclusively.
Thank you very much indeed!
Responses
4 +3 collective noun
3 +4 need
Change log

Aug 13, 2021 15:03: Yvonne Gallagher Created KOG entry

Votes to reclassify question as PRO/non-PRO:

Non-PRO (1): Edith Kelly

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Discussion

Jacek Rogala (X) Aug 12, 2021:
Good point, David! Thanks a lot! More context:
The four broad areas of need:
Communication and interaction. ...
Cognition and learning. ...
Social, emotional and mental health difficulties. ...
Sensory and/or physical need.
David Hollywood Aug 12, 2021:
in psychological terms people have "needs" so check it with your overall context
David Hollywood Aug 12, 2021:
I assume you need this for a translation and you won't be wrong with "areas of need" if it fits your context
David Hollywood Aug 12, 2021:
As a generic "areas of need" is fine while "areas of needs" (albeit possibly having some semantic justification) would be extremely rare in English.

Responses

+3
6 hrs
Selected

collective noun

I agree with part of Shera Lynn's answer but NOT with "Unless the areas EACH have several needs"

Yes, "areas" is plural so "need" can be singular but imply the plural here.

I believe it would be very odd to have just one need in each area and that there are likely to be lots of needs, some overlapping with the needs in other areas. (You may need to make it plural in your language)

Other longer ways to write this:

Areas where there are needs to be met
Areas that have needs to be solved
Areas that have a range of needs

So I believe there are various needs in the different areas, However, to write "areas of needs" would look extremely strange in English


It also seems to be a set phrase in educational settings e.g.

https://wolvesiass.org/areas-of-need/
https://app.croneri.co.uk/topics/areas-need-and-support-stra...
http://sites.southglos.gov.uk/safeguarding/wp-content/upload...

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Note added at 18 hrs (2021-08-12 12:09:07 GMT)
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Just to clarify, this is not a collective noun per se as, of course. it is counrtable and can be written, as I've shown as "needs" in some structures but it is acting like a collective noun in that, while singular, it is encompassing a possible (probable here) plural

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Note added at 23 hrs (2021-08-12 16:58:43 GMT)
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glad to help. Definitely plural needs implied

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Note added at 1 day 21 hrs (2021-08-13 15:02:58 GMT) Post-grading
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You're welcome:-))
Note from asker:
I was strongly hoping you will come so thanks a lot for coming here! :)
Peer comment(s):
agree Tony M : Yes, 'areas where there is (at least one) need (in each area')
7 hrs
Thanks Tony! I really don't see how it could be a singular need in each area
agree Wissam Alaqad
9 hrs
Thanks:-)
agree AllegroTrans : yes, implies the plural
12 hrs
Many thanks:-)
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Many thanks again, Yvonne! See you! :)"
+4
1 hr

need

You already have the plural in "areas". Unless the areas EACH have several needs, "Areas of need" is correct. I imagine that here, each area is correlated to an individual need. There are many areas and that's where you have a plural.
Note from asker:
Many thanks indeed! I deeply appreciate your valuable contribution!
Thank you very much for expanding my scant knowledge, Shera! Deeply appreciate your help!
Peer comment(s):
agree Britta Norris
3 hrs
agree Tina Vonhof (X)
8 hrs
agree Edith Kelly
11 hrs
agree Wissam Alaqad
15 hrs
neutral Yvonne Gallagher : I disagree that singular "need" in this structure means there is only 1 need in each area
17 hrs
neutral AllegroTrans : Nope, the singular implies the plural but the plural isn't actually used
18 hrs
Something went wrong...
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