needs to complete

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "needs to complete" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that someone or something is required to finish a task or process. Example: "The project needs to complete the final phase by the end of the month."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It's getting there, but needs to complete the journey.

The New York Times

— Steve Elmendorf, Democratic strategist "Romney needs to complete the sale.

The New York Times

He needs to complete writing his epic fantasy.

Independent

Serbia now needs to complete a transformation well begun.

The New York Times

Who needs to complete the language requirement at Columbia?

Columbia University

Moving to Tunisia is not an option because she needs to complete her studies here.

The Guardian

Still, Hasselbeck remains the man for as long as Luck needs to complete his rehabilitation.

The Guardian - Sport

Mr. Trump needs to complete only a portion of his promises, he said.

The New York Times

All he needs to complete the ensemble is his Panama hat and Boots sunglasses.

Independent

Someone with a valid SUNet ID needs to complete the questionnaire.

Stanford University

But I trust Professor Abelson to take the time he needs to complete a thorough analysis.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the context: for formal writing, a stronger verb like "must" or "is required to" might be more appropriate than "needs to".

Common error

Avoid using "needs to complete" with plural subjects. The correct form for plural subjects is "need to complete". For example, use "They need to complete the project", not "They needs to complete the project".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "needs to complete" functions as an infinitive phrase, indicating a requirement or necessity to finish a task. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Academia

26%

Science

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Wiki

3%

Social Media

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "needs to complete" is a grammatically correct and commonly used infinitive phrase that expresses the necessity of finishing something. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability. It appears frequently in News & Media, Academia, and Science contexts. While it can be used in various registers, it's essential to ensure subject-verb agreement and to consider stronger alternatives like "must finish" in formal settings. Remember to specify who or what "needs to complete" the task for clarity and avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

must finish

Emphasizes obligation or requirement, similar to "needs to complete" but with a stronger sense of duty.

has to conclude

Focuses on bringing something to an end, similar to "needs to complete" when referring to a process or task.

is required to finalize

Highlights the necessity of making something final, similar to "needs to complete" but more formal.

should accomplish

Indicates a recommendation or expectation of achieving something, closely related to "needs to complete".

is supposed to wrap up

Suggests an expectation or agreement to finish something, similar to "needs to complete" in informal contexts.

ought to execute

Implies a moral or practical obligation to carry out or finish something, similar to "needs to complete" in formal settings.

is essential to terminate

Highlights the critical importance of ending something, which is related to "needs to complete" when talking about projects or processes.

must carry out

Stresses the obligation to perform or complete a task, akin to "needs to complete" but with a focus on the action.

has a requirement to achieve

Expresses a formal demand to reach a certain outcome, similar to "needs to complete" in professional settings.

is bound to fulfill

Suggests a contractual or moral obligation to finish something, similar to "needs to complete" but with emphasis on commitment.

FAQs

How to use "needs to complete" in a sentence?

Use "needs to complete" to indicate a requirement or necessity for finishing a task or process. For example, "The student needs to complete the assignment by Friday".

What can I say instead of "needs to complete"?

You can use alternatives like "must finish", "has to conclude", or "is required to finalize" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "needs to complete" or "need to complete"?

"Needs to complete" is correct for singular subjects (e.g., "he", "she", "it"), while "need to complete" is correct for plural subjects (e.g., "they", "we") and the pronoun "I" or "you".

What's the difference between "needs to complete" and "required to complete"?

"Needs to complete" implies a general necessity, while "required to complete" suggests a formal or mandated obligation. The latter often appears in official or professional contexts.