I need to get my oil changed: Tengo o Necesito que cambiar el aceite?

Question

Hi all!

There was a phrase which has been confusing me for a while, in this brilliant thread l saw this phrase and how it was translated:

I need to get my oil changed --> Tengo que cambiar el aceite

And l was wondering, shouldn't it be Necesito instead of Tengo since the original English phrase is l need and not l have to?

Are there any exceptions or rules in this case?

Any explanations or examples are very appreciated, thank you

Answer 1

Necesito cambiar, debo cambiar, and tengo que cambiar are all pretty similar.

If you use que with necesito it's like this:

Necesito que me cambies el aceite.

BUT the point of Heidita's latest threads is that Spanish speakres say they are going to do something themselves when they mean something is going to be done for them (like changing your oil).

So you might mean "Necesito que me cambies el aceite" and say "Necesito cambiar el aceite" at least that's what I got from it.

Gracias....

Answer 2

Hey Lovely, I think they're fairly interchangeable, after all to have to do something and to need to do something are fairly similar in meaning. Although I've found that necesitar is used much less frequently than 'tener que' - just my opinion though

Remember that if you use necesito you won't use the que.

This link might be useful Expressing obligation

Answer 3

In English "to have too" and "to need to" in this context mean the same thing. They both indicate necessity. I would use it the same way in Spanish, but I'm not a native.

"to have to" :) - NickDan, Jun 6, 2011

Typing " too" fast. Thanks! - Beatrice-Codder, Jun 6, 2011

Answer 4

If you are going to do the oil change yourself, then either can be used, but if you are taking your car to someone to do the work for you, then you would say something like "Necesito que me cambien el aceite del coche," or "Tengo que llevar el coche a que me cambien el aceite," etc.

Answer 5

Hello Lovely and Welcome to the forum again.

Although they mean the same thing in English I think that the tener que construction is stronger in meaning in Spanish than the necesitar que (and although I am sure that I have seen sentences with necesitar que translated as have to rather than need to.I am not think that this is correct practice although I am willing to be corrected as always)

Strictly I think the constructions are translated as follows:

Tengo que = I have to

Necesito = I need to

However, in the context it is also clear that the person would have to do what he also needs to do which is to change the oil in his car so I do not think it actually matters which s/he uses as long as the translation matches tener que = to have to necesitar que = to need to)

Tengo que cambiar el aceite = I have to (or must) change the oil

Necesito cambiar el aceite = I need to change the oil

**I hope this helps*

Hey Feliz :) Did you ever get my PM? - Kiwi-Girl, Jun 6, 2011

Which one? - FELIZ77, Jun 6, 2011

I think I've only ever sent one lol :) - a follow up to your 'the world is ending' thread - Kiwi-Girl, Jun 6, 2011

Wow Kiwi, the world is ending and you are worried about a PM :) - Sabor, Jun 6, 2011

lol, just thought it would be unlike Feliz not to answer :) - Kiwi-Girl, Jun 7, 2011

Well MC I am sorry if I had unintentionally caused offence through my response to teh article :) - FELIZ77, Jun 7, 2011

Answer 6

Hola todos

Answer 7

hola todos, y mucho gusto lovely, según entiendo se dice "necesito cambiar el aceite"