15.5 USING GERUNDS OR PASSIVE INFINITIVES FOLLOWING NEED

15-5 USING GERUNDS OR PASSIVE INFINITIVES FOLLOWING NEED
(NEED + 동명사 OR 수동형 부정사)

(a)
(b)

I need to borrow some money.
John needs to be told the truth.

Usually an infinitive follows need, as in (a) and (b).

The house needs painting.
The house needs to be painted.

In certain circumstances, a gerund may follow need. In this case, the gerund carries a passive meaning. Usually the situations involve fixing or improving something. (c) and (d) have the same meaning.