Phil Let's start by looking at how it works as a main verb.
Jiaying 好，先来看 “need” 作常规动词时的用法。第一个用法是：如果某人 “need to do something”，意思就是 “必须履行、不得不、需要做某事”，没有其它的选择。
Phil Yes, and don't forget that when you use 'need' as a main verb before another verb, we put the other verb in the infinitive, and that's always with 'to'.
Jiaying 别忘了，“need” 作常规动词时，后可接不定式 “to do”，也就是 “need to do something（必须、需要做某事）”。来听两个例句。
Examples You need to study hard before your exam. （考试前你需要努力学习。）
I need to find out what the questions are going to be about! （我得弄清考题是关于什么内容的！）
Does she need to register when she arrives? （她到达考场时需要登记吗？）
Jiaying 与英语中的大多数动词一样，常规动词 “need” 随人称和时态的变化而产生变化。
Examples She needs to pass the exam for her job. （她为了工作需要通过考试。）
I needed to pass lots of exams to get this job. （当时我需要通过很多考试才得到这份工作。）
Phil So, going back to our question – if you say 'Maybe I need to make a calendar for you' – it's a correct way to use 'need' as a main verb – it's followed by the infinitive with 'to'.
Jiaying 所以本期节目问题中的第一句话是正确的：“Maybe I need to make a calendar for you.” 在这里，“need” 作常规动词使用，后接不定式 “to do”。
那么，“need” 作情态动词时该怎么用呢？
Phil Well, two very important things – like other modal verbs, when we use it with another verb, we don't use 'to' with the infinitive.
Examples No one need know how much you studied, as long as you pass. （只要你通过考试，没人需要知道你学了多少。）
The last question needn't be a problem. （试卷上的最后一道题不是问题。）
Phil And something else you might have seen is that both sentences had a negative meaning. We only usually use the modal form of 'need' in sentences that talk about absence of obligation.
Examples Nothing need change – let's carry on like before. （没有要改的东西，咱们像以前那样做下去。）
Nobody need do anything. It's great as it is. （没有人需要做任何事情。现在这样就很好。）
Jiaying 接着再来看本期节目问题中的第二句话。我们不能说：“Maybe I need make a calendar for you.” 因为这是肯定句，所以 “need” 不能作情态动词使用。
Phil While we're talking about negatives with the modal form of 'need', it's important to point out that, like with other modal verbs, we make the negative by putting 'not' after 'need' – and it's often contracted to 'needn't'.
