Basic Survival Sentences
I want__(something) .
| I want a pizza. | I want a job. | I want an aspirin. | I want a new car. |
| I want a drink. | I want an orange. | I want some change. | I want a room. |
| I want the newspaper. | I want some water. | I want some gas. | I want the telephone. |
Notice the Articles- A, AN, THE - and the adjective SOME. They all point out nouns.
- A is used before words that begin with a consonant sound. It refers to any one of a group of things. "A pizza" means one of the pizzas in the shop: not a particular one.
- AN is used before words that begin with a vowel sound. It also refers to any one of a group of things. "An aspirin" means one of the aspirins in the bottle or medicine cabinet, but no special one.
- THE refers to a particular something: "I want the newspaper." usually means today's newspaper or the most recent one. It could also mean the only newspaper in the room or the one on the table.
- SOME means an indefinite amount of the noun it refers to. "some water" could mean a glass of water, half a glass of water, or a bucket of water. The exact meaning would be different in different situations.
I need (something) .
| I need a drink. | I need a job. | I need a new car. | I need a hug. |
| I need an aspirin. | I need an umbrella. | I need an overcoat. | I need an envelope. |
| I need some gas. | I need some change. | I need some milk. | I need some help. |
| I need the screwdriver. | I need the phone book. | I need the newspaper. | I need the answer. |
I have (something) .
| I have a headache. | I have a toothache. | I have a stomach ache. | I have the newspaper. |
| I have the time. | I have two sisters. | I have an apartment. | I have a good job. |
| I have an idea. | I have an apple. | I have some coffee. | I have some friends. |
In theplace of the articles (A, AN, THE), you can often use numbers or amountwords: "I have a lot of time." "I have littletime." "I have a cup of coffee." "I have twofriends." "I need 5 gallons of gas." "I needthree envelopes." "I want two aspirins."
I want to (+ verb) + . This form talks about an action I desire to take but is notnecessary.
| I want to go home. | I want to stay home. | I want to work. | I want to sleep. |
| I want to drive. | I want to write a letter. | I want to change shoes. | I want to help. |
I needto (+ verb) + . This form is used for an action that isnecessary or important to take.
| I need to sleep. | I need to exercise. | I need to wake up. | I need to buy milk. |
| I need to go shopping. | I need to study. | I need to pay bills. | I need to drive slowly. |
I haveto (+ verb) + . This form is to talk about an action I amobligated to do - very important.
| I have to rest. | I have to work. | I have to eat. | I have to visit Mother. |
| I have to take a test. | I have to pay my rent. | I have to fix my car. | I have to finish this job. |
Exercise A: Complete the following sentences with I want, I need, or Ihave.
| 1. ____________ some cherry pie. | 4. _____________ a lawyer. | 7. ____________ an ice cream cone. |
| 2. _____________ new tires for my car. | 5. _____________ film for my camera. | 8. ____________ a wife and two kids. |
| 3. ____________ some cold medicine. | 6. ____________ too many bills. | 9. ____________ a vacation. |
Exercise B: Completethe following sentences with I want, I have, I need.
| 1. ___________ to go swimming. | 4. ___________ to polish my shoes. | 7. ___________ to mow the grass. |
| 2. ___________ to buy groceries. | 5. ___________ to watch a movie. | 8. ___________ to play basketball. |
| 3. ___________ to attend school. | 6. ___________ to pay my taxes. | 9. ___________ to learn English. |
Answers toExercises:
Exercise A: Theseare the best answers, but other choices may be correct.
| 1. I want (have) some cherry pie. | 4. I need (want) (have) a lawyer. | 7. I want an ice cream cone. |
| 2. I need (have) (want) some new tires for my car. | 5. I need (want) (have) film for my camera. | 8. I have (want) a wife and two kids. |
| 3. I need (have) (want) some cold medicine. | 6. I have too many bills. | 9. I need (want) a vacation. |
Exercise B: The bestanswers are first. Other answers may be OK.
| 1. I want to go swimming. | 4. I have (want) (need) to polish my shoes. | 7. I have (need) (want) to mow the grass. |
| 2. I need (have) (want) to buy groceries. | 5. I want to watch a movie. | 8. I want to play basketball. |
| 3. I have (want) to attend school. | 6. I have to pay my taxes. | 9. I need (want) to learn English. |
