needs some time

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of a sentence 'needs some time' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are talking about something that requires a period of time to complete, or when you are expressing a need for patience or time to think. For example, "I need some time to process this news," or "This project needs some time before it is complete."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"John needs some time to think.

The New York Times

But he needs some time to find his wings.

The New York Times - Magazine

("She's tired; she needs some time off," her husband told ABC).

The New York Times

"He needs some time to play and come back to full fitness.

Independent

She does write doggerel now and then, but for this, she says, she needs some time.

The New York Times

The government, therefore, needs some time and understanding to get on with this important work.

The Economist

It just needs some time for that to bed in now".

The Guardian - Business

He has told the team's public relations staff that he needs some time.

The New York Times - Sports

I need some time, obviously Ian needs some time and the RFU does as well.

The Guardian - Sport

"Everything is so unclear and he needs some time to consider his options.

The Guardian

It's a big deal what happened and Jeremy, as any human being would, needs some time out".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "needs some time" when you want to convey that a process, person, or situation requires a period for development, consideration, or recovery.

Common error

While "needs some time" is acceptable in many situations, consider more formal alternatives like "requires further evaluation" or "necessitates a period of adjustment" in professional or academic writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "needs some time" primarily functions as a predicate in a sentence, indicating that a subject requires a certain duration for a specific purpose. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread and correct usage across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

18%

Wiki

16%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "needs some time" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to indicate that a person, process, or thing requires a period for development, consideration, or recovery. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely used across diverse contexts, particularly in news, science, and general media. While generally neutral in register, it's important to consider more formal alternatives like "requires further evaluation" in professional or academic writing. Remember to use "needs some time" to convey the necessity of a period with patience and understanding. Some suitable alternatives include "requires a period" and "demands a moment".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

would benefit from time

Focuses on the positive impact of allowing time to pass.

requires a period

Emphasizes the necessity of a duration for something to occur.

demands a moment

Highlights the urgency or importance of having some time.

is in the works

Highlights that something is currently under progress.

could use a while

Suggests that something would benefit from an extended duration.

is still maturing

Highlights that something is still under development and not yet fully developed.

is not ready yet

Highlights the state of something not being in its final stage.

calls for a pause

Emphasizes the need for a temporary cessation or interruption.

requires further development

Emphasizes that something requires more work to finish.

deserves a break

This alternative refers to the need for resting.

FAQs

How can I use "needs some time" in a sentence?

You can use "needs some time" to indicate that someone or something requires a period for a specific purpose. For example, "He "needs some time to think"" or "The project "needs some time to develop"".

What are some alternatives to "needs some time"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "requires a period", "demands a moment", or "would benefit from time".

Is it correct to say "needed some time" instead of "needs some time"?

Yes, "needed some time" is the past tense form of the phrase and is grammatically correct when referring to a past situation where time was required. For example, "He "needed some time to recover" after the surgery".

When is it more appropriate to use "requires some time" instead of "needs some time"?

"Requires some time" is generally more formal than "needs some time" and is suitable for professional or academic contexts. "Requires some time" suggests a more formal necessity, while "needs some time" is more conversational.