TOEIC Decision Point

Need Doing vs Need To Be Done: Recognise the Same Required Action

In TOEIC Part 5, needs checking and needs to be checked can describe the same business problem.

The quick choice is not “What is the grammar name?” The quick choice is: does the subject receive the action, or is the subject the person expected to perform it?

The report needs checking = The report needs to be checked. Both mean someone must check the report.

The quick choice

First identify the subject. Is it the document, machine, room, or system that requires attention? Or is it the person responsible for acting?

The thing needs action

The printer needs repairing. The printer needs to be repaired. The printer receives the repair.

The person needs to act

The technician needs to repair the printer. The technician performs the repair.

The signal to remember

Thing receives the action = needs doing / needs to be done. Person performs the action = needs to do.

This is the MTC move. Follow who receives the action and who performs it.

The contract needs reviewing before it is signed.
Someone must review the contract. The contract receives the action.

The contract needs to be reviewed before it is signed.
This carries the same meaning in a fuller pattern.

The legal team needs to review the contract before it is signed.
The legal team performs the action.

What to notice

This pattern can appear in sentences about repairs, documents, reports, forms, equipment, offices, software, and scheduled work.

The figures need checking.
Someone must check the figures.

The figures need to be checked.
Same required action, fuller pattern.

The accountant needs to check the figures.
The accountant is responsible for the action.

Do not create a false choice

Needs checking and needs to be checked are both valid and can express the same required action. Do not treat them as opposite meanings.

A useful contrast is needs checking versus needs to check, or needs to be repaired versus needs to repair.

The machine

The machine needs repairing. The machine needs to be repaired.

The technician

The technician needs to repair the machine.

Under pressure, ask one question: does the subject receive the action, or perform it?

Quick TOEIC check

Choose first. Then read the feedback. Use the quick check: thing receives the action, or person performs it?

1. The conference-room projector needs ___ before tomorrow’s presentation.

testing to test

Correct: testing

The projector receives the test. Someone must test it.

Not quite.

The projector does not perform the test. It receives the action. Choose testing.

2. All expense claims need ___ by the finance manager.

to be approved to approve

Correct: to be approved

The claims receive the approval. The finance manager performs it.

Not quite.

The claims cannot approve something themselves. Choose to be approved.

3. The maintenance team needs ___ the air-conditioning system this afternoon.

inspecting to inspect

Not quite.

The maintenance team performs the inspection. Choose to inspect.

Correct: to inspect

The subject is the team responsible for performing the action.

4. Several sections of the report need ___ before publication.

rewriting to rewrite

Correct: rewriting

The report sections receive the action. Someone must rewrite them.

Not quite.

The report sections do not perform the rewriting. Choose rewriting.

The mistake to avoid

Do not automatically choose to + action after seeing need. First check whether the subject performs the action or receives it.

Weak choice

Choose to repair, to check, or to review simply because need appears before the blank.

Better choice

Identify the subject and ask whether it performs the action or receives it.

Keep the direction of the action clear

English requires you to notice whether the subject is responsible for acting or is the thing requiring attention.

Do not translate the sentence twice. Follow the direction of the action.

Quick tool: thing receives action = needs doing / needs to be done. Person acts = needs to do.

Related practice

Continue practising action decisions

Use these related pages to keep following who acts, what changes, and where the action points.

Read Try Doing vs Try To Do Read Stop Doing vs Stop To Do Read Remember Doing vs Remember To Do

Next step

Use small TOEIC mistakes as a diagnostic

If you understand the answer during review but miss it under time pressure, the problem may be your decision pattern rather than the words alone.

Start with the Learning Block Diagnostic to see whether your mistakes connect to Speed Trap, Memoriser, Over Thinker, Translator, Passive Listener, or Burnout.

Take the Learning Block Diagnostic Find Your TOEIC Plan Browse the Strategy Library

Continue reading

Use these pages to practise the decision process and review small TOEIC mistakes.