het ... nodig

Needing: Het ... Nodig

Level 1

Ek het water nodig. (I need water.) The thing you need goes between het and nodig.

How It Works

The frame. Afrikaans says literally I have water necessary:

  • Ek het hulp nodig. (I need help.)
  • Het jy iets nodig? (Do you need anything?)
  • Wat het jy nodig? (What do you need?)

Negation. Nie comes after the thing when it is a pronoun, and before it when it is a noun with 'n. The second nie follows nodig: Ek het dit nie nodig nie. Ons het nie 'n kar nodig nie. See Double Negation.

With a modal. Het becomes hê at the very end, after nodig: Jy sal 'n warm jas nodig hê. See het/hê.

In the past. Use het ... nodig gehad: Ek het gister hulp nodig gehad. (I needed help yesterday.) See het gehad.

Needing to do something. For an action, Afrikaans normally uses moet: Ek moet slaap. (I need to sleep.)

Nodig on its own. Dit is nie nodig nie. means That's not necessary. It is a polite way to turn down an offer.

Needing or wanting? For something you want, use wil ... hê: Ek wil koffie hê.

Examples (6)

  1. Ek het water nodig.

    I need water.

    Word by Word: I have water necessary.

  2. Het jy hulp nodig?

    Do you need help?

    Word by Word: Have you help necessary?

  3. Wat het jy nodig?

    What do you need?

    Word by Word: What have you necessary?

  4. Ons het nie 'n kar nodig nie.

    We don't need a car.

    Word by Word: We have not a car necessary not.

  5. Jy sal 'n warm jas nodig hê.

    You will need a warm coat.

    Word by Word: You will a warm coat necessary have.

    After sal, het becomes hê and moves to the very end.

  6. Dankie, dit is nie nodig nie.

    Thanks, that's not necessary.

    Word by Word: Thanks, it is not necessary not.

Common Mistakes

  • Using nodig as a verb, like English need.

    Ek nodig water.
    Ek het water nodig.

    Nodig is not a verb. The verb in second place is het.

  • Putting nodig straight after het.

    Ek het nodig water.
    Ek het water nodig.

    Nodig goes to the end. The thing you need comes between het and nodig.

  • Keeping het after a modal verb.

    Ons sal meer tyd nodig het.
    Ons sal meer tyd nodig hê.

    After a modal such as sal, het becomes hê and goes last, after nodig.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

het ... nodigLevel 1Needing: Het ... Nodig

Learn This First

Needing something uses het with nodig at the end.

Words in This Pattern

nodig