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necesitar vs necesitarse

necesitar vs necesitarse

0
votes

Ok so necesitar means "to need" and necesitarse means "to be needed."

I wrote "Mi comida favorita es la pizza. Los ingredientes que necesita son un teléfono y algún dinero. Quiero hacer una pizza ahora mismo, pero no tengo todos los ingredientes. :(.

and got corrected to "Mi comida favorita es la pizza. Los ingredientes que se necesitan son un teléfono y algún dinero. Quiero hacer una pizza ahora mismo, pero no tengo todos los ingredientes. :(.

I wanted to say "the ingredients that you need" but it is apparently translating to "the ingredients that are needed are".... but I also wonder about the use of necesitar in this way.....necesitan instead of necesita....why would it take on the plural for the nouns instead singular for the pronoun (you).

7621 views
updated Nov 20, 2009
edited by jeezzle
posted by jeezzle

6 Answers

1
vote

The short answer is that both are correct. One is constructed in the active voice and the other is in the passive. The following is a somewhat long-winded explanation as to why.

necesitarse means "to be needed

In this case "se" is used to construct the clause in the passive voice.

I also wonder about the use of necesitar in this way.....necesitan instead of necesita....why would it take on the plural for the nouns instead singular for the pronoun (you).

In this case "se" refers to the ingredients (los ingredientes) which is plural and has nothing to do with "you."

Los ingredientes que se necesitan son un teléfono y algún dinero

If you break it down into its two component clauses, you end up with:

1). Los ingredientes son un teléfono y algún dinero - The ingredients are a telephone and some money

2). Se necesitan los ingredientes - They (the ingredients) are needed

The full sentence in the passive voice would be:

The ingredients that are needed are a telephone and some money

If you did not want to use the active voice then you might say:

Los ingredientes que necesita/necesitas son un teléfono y algún dinero - The ingredients that you need are a telephone and some money

And again, breaking this down into its component clauses, you end up with:

1). Necesita/necesitas los ingredientes. You need the ingredients

2). Los ingredientes son un teléfono y algún dinero - The ingredients are a telephone and some money.

Both sentences are possible, but if you want to keep with the integrity of your original sentence then you should stick with the active voice.

updated Nov 19, 2009
posted by Izanoni1
1
vote

I wrote "Mi comida favorita es la pizza. Los ingredientes que necesita son un teléfono y algún dinero. Quiero hacer una pizza ahora mismo, pero no tengo todos los ingredientes. :(.

and got corrected to "Mi comida favorita es la pizza. Los ingredientes que se necesitan son un teléfono y algún dinero. Quiero hacer una pizza ahora mismo, pero no tengo todos los ingredientes. :(.

This is correct---> "Mi comida favorita es la pizza. Los ingredientes necesarios son un teléfono y algo de dinero. Quiero hacer una pizza ahora mismo, pero no tengo todos los ingredientes.

Necesitar=cuando denotas lo que se requiere para algo que ya tienes idea

Necesitarse= cuando son requeridos por obligacion.

Creo que según como lo quieras usar en la oración, que tengas un lindo día y ayudame con el inglés, gracias :D

updated Nov 19, 2009
posted by EdiOswaldo
0
votes

Has anybody mentioned that necesitarse does not exist?

Nos necesitamos, we need each other, using the reciprocal pronoun.

Se necesita, using the impersonal se (pasiva refleja)

updated Nov 20, 2009
posted by 00494d19
Ok so it's impersonal se and means "to be needed?" I think I got it.. sort of. - jeezzle, Nov 20, 2009
0
votes

"the ingredients that you need"

You did not mention the impersonal you ("se necesitan" ) though in the Spanish phrase, so you said:

the ingredientes need.....

You could have added the pronoun here, would still have been weird, but not incorrect:

Los ingredientes que necesita Usted son un teléfono

updated Nov 20, 2009
posted by 00494d19
0
votes

Hmm.. so it seems I got corrected to the passive voice....which is something that I am just delving into a bit....so "you need some money" = active and "some money will be needed" = passive I guess? thsnks.

updated Nov 19, 2009
posted by jeezzle
0
votes

they are both correct, it just depends on the way you like to say things. And it could be the translator? If you used an online one, I wouldn't think they get things right 100% of the time.

updated Nov 19, 2009
posted by puppyduckie