A need is a requirement or desire that someone feels they must fulfill. This can be a physical need, such as food, water and shelter, or a psychological need, like love and connection. A need can also be a motivational factor, inspiring action toward a goal. It can also be a motivating force in relationships, triggering the need to meet each other’s needs. Need can be considered an essential part of human behavior, although different psychologists may have slightly varying definitions and interpretations.
The word need can also be used as an adjective, describing something that is necessary: “needy” means lacking in necessities; “succumbing to a need” implies an addictive behavior; and “insatiable” describes a desire for more than one can comfortably possess. It can also be used as a noun, referring to the need for something: “I need to get more sleep,” for example. The word need can also be used as a verb, with the meaning of “to require” or “to feel compelled to do”: I have a need to stay awake.
There is a need for more research into aging and Alzheimer’s disease. A recent study found that women who regularly exercise have a lower risk of dementia than those who don’t. There is a need to improve health care for low-income patients. A recent report stated that hospitals are often not equipped to handle the number of patients they see. The need for new doctors has increased as baby boomers retire and health insurance costs rise.
A person who is not fulfilling their own psychological and social needs will find that they are unable to function well in society. Psychologist Abraham Maslow’s model of the hierarchy of needs suggests that people must first satisfy basic physiological and safety needs (e.g. food, water and shelter) before they can move on to higher psychological needs of belonging, esteem and self-actualization.
Some nouns, such as sports, languages, meals and names of places, do not have an article before them because they are known to the writer and reader. However, other nouns have both countable and uncountable meanings. For instance, the word exam is a countable noun because it can be scheduled multiple times. Concentration, on the other hand, is an uncountable noun because it requires a lot of attention to complete.
Using the articles correctly makes your writing clear and fluent. Incorrect use of the articles a, an and the can make your writing seem incoherent and confusing. Luckily, it is easy to learn how to use the articles correctly. The only trick is remembering to think about whether the noun you are referencing is countable or uncountable before adding the article. The more you practice, the easier it will be for you to remember which article to use with each noun. Good luck! See you next time! —By Amy McEvoy, English teacher.