German Steps - Driving - Grammar note


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Saying 'I need'

To say what you need in German, you use the verb brauchen, literally to be in need of....

You only use brauchen with nouns:




Ich brauche ein Bier. I need a beer.
Sie brauchen eine Tankstelle You need a petrol station.
Du brauchst Benzin. You need petrol.

The verb endings change depending on who you are talking to. They follow the same regular pattern as verbs like kommen and wohnen.

To say what you need to do, you use müssen, which has irregular forms.

However, if you want to express what you don't need to do or don't have to do, you do use brauchen with the word nicht.

You also add the word zu, to, before the main verb.




Ich brauche nicht zu tanken. I don't need to fill up.
Sie brauchen nicht zu arbeiten. You don't need to work.