avere bisogno di + Infinitive / Noun
'Avere Bisogno Di' + Infinitive/Noun
Use avere bisogno di to say you need something or need to do something. It is more personal and subjective than other ways of expressing necessity.
How It Works
1. Structure and Usage
To use this pattern, conjugate avere to match the subject and follow it with bisogno di. It can be followed by:
- A Noun: Ho bisogno di un caffè. (I need a coffee.)
- An Infinitive: Abbiamo bisogno di dormire. (We need to sleep.)
2. The Importance of 'Di'
Unlike English, where 'need' is a direct verb, Italian uses a noun phrase. You must include di. When followed by a definite article, it must become an articulated preposition (e.g., di + il = del).
3. Avoiding Repetition with 'Ne'
When you want to say "I need it" or "I need them" referring to something already mentioned, you must use the particle ne. Because the expression is avere bisogno di, the particle ne (which replaces di + something) is required. Place it before the conjugated verb: Ne ho bisogno (I need it/them).
4. Nuance vs. Other Verbs
- Avere bisogno di: Expresses a subjective or internal need (e.g., 'I feel I need this').
- Dovere: A stronger form of necessity, duty, or external obligation (e.g., 'I must/have to do this').
- Servire: Functional necessity. Note that with servire, the object is the subject: Mi serve una penna (A pen is needed by me).
- Bisognare: Mostly used impersonally in the 3rd person singular (Bisogna...). It can express general truths or specific, immediate impersonal needs like Bisogna fare presto (It is necessary to hurry).
5. Advanced Note: Different Subjects
If you need someone else to do something, you cannot use the infinitive. You must use che + the subjunctive: Ho bisogno che tu mi aiuti (I need you to help me).
Examples (6)
- Ho proprio bisogno di una vacanza dopo questo mese di lavoro.
I really need a vacation after this month of work.
Word by Word: I have exactly need of a vacation after this month of work.
Shows the use of 'bisogno di' with a noun to express a personal desire/need.
- Hai bisogno di aiuto con le valigie?
Do you need help with the suitcases?
Word by Word: Have you need of help with the suitcases?
A common way to offer assistance using the pattern.
- I bambini hanno bisogno di sentirsi al sicuro.
Children need to feel safe.
Word by Word: The children have need of to feel themselves at the safe.
Demonstrates the pattern followed by an infinitive verb (sentirsi).
- Abbiamo bisogno del tuo consiglio.
We need your advice.
Word by Word: We have need of the your advice.
Shows the preposition 'di' merging with the article 'il' to form 'del'.
- Ho bisogno di te stasera.
I need you tonight.
Word by Word: I have need of you tonight.
The pattern used with a personal pronoun to express emotional or practical need for a person.
- Se ti serve il mio computer, prendilo pure: non ne ho bisogno adesso.
If you need my computer, go ahead and take it: I don't need it right now.
Word by Word: If to you serves the my computer, take it indeed: not of it I have need now.
Uses the particle 'ne' to replace 'del computer' and avoid repetition.
Common Mistakes
Omitting the preposition 'di'.
Ho bisogno una penna.Ho bisogno di una penna.In Italian, you don't 'need a pen,' you 'have need OF a pen.' The 'di' is mandatory.
Conjugating 'bisogno' as if it were a verb.
Io bisogno dormire.Ho bisogno di dormire.'Bisogno' is a noun meaning 'need.' You must conjugate the verb 'avere' (to have) to use this expression.
Using 'di' + infinitive when the subject changes.
Ho bisogno di tu venire qui.Ho bisogno che tu venga qui.If the person needing and the person performing the action are different, you must use 'che' followed by the subjunctive mood.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To use 'avere bisogno di', you first need to know how to conjugate the verb 'avere' in the present tense. You also need to understand how the preposition 'di' functions to connect words and how Italian verbs can be followed directly by an infinitive to express a secondary action.
- averePresent Tense of 'Avere'
The pattern is built on the conjugation of the verb 'avere' to express possession or state.
Level 1 - di + Possessor'Di' for Possession
Understanding the use of the preposition 'di' is essential as it links the expression 'bisogno' to the object or action needed.
Level 1 - Verb + Infinitive
This pattern follows the structure of a conjugated verb followed by an infinitive, which is a fundamental concept for using 'bisogno di' with actions.
Level 1
Related Patterns
- Articulated (Contracted) Prepositions
The 'di' in this pattern often merges with definite articles to form articulated prepositions.
Level 1 - potere / dovere / volereModal Verbs (Potere, Dovere, Volere)
'Dovere' is often confused with 'avere bisogno di' but expresses obligation rather than personal need.
Level 1 - Present Subjunctive
Required when the subject of the need is different from the subject of the action (e.g., 'Ho bisogno che tu...').
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Sources
Practice avere bisogno di + Infinitive / Noun in Bubblegum
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