Lesson 2: 

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 some
I want a drink. I want an orange. I want a room.
change.
I want the I want the
I want some water. I want some gas.
newspaper. 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.

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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
I need some gas. I need some milk. I need some help.
change.
I need the I need the phone I need the
I need the answer.
screwdriver. book. newspaper.

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I have   (something)  . 

I have a headache. I have a toothache. I have a stomach I have the

 ache. newspaper.
I have an
I have the time. I have two sisters. I have a good job.
apartment.
I have some
I have an idea. I have an apple. I have some coffee.
friends.

In the place of the articles (A, AN, THE), you can often use numbers or amount words:  "I
have a lot of time."  "I have little time." "I have a cup of coffee."  "I have two friends."  "I
need 5 gallons of gas."  "I need three envelopes." "I want two aspirins."

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I want to   (+ verb) .  This form talks about an action I wish to take but is not
necessary.

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.

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I need to   (+ verb)  .  This form is used for an action that is necessary 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.

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I have to   (+ verb) + .  This form is to talk about an action I am obligated 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.

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Exercise A:  Complete the following sentences with I want,  I need, or I have. 

1. ____________ some cherry 7. ____________ an ice cream

4. _____________ a lawyer.
pie. cone.
2. _____________ new tires for 5. _____________ film for my 8. ____________ a wife and two
my car. camera. kids.
3. ____________ some cold
6. ____________ too many bills. 9. ____________ a vacation.
medicine.
Exercise B: Complete the following sentences with I want, I have, I need.

1. ___________ to go 4. ___________ to polish my 7. ___________ to mow the

swimming. shoes. grass.
2. ___________ to buy 5. ___________ to watch a 8. ___________ to play
groceries. movie. basketball.
3. ___________ to attend 6. ___________ to pay my
9. ___________ to learn English.
school. taxes.

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Answers to Lesson 2 Exercises:

Exercise A: These are the best answers, but other choices may be correct.

1. I want (have) some cherry

4. I need (want) (have) a lawyer. 7. I want an ice cream cone.
pie.
2. I need (have) (want) some 5. I need (want) (have) film for 8. I have (want) a wife and two
new tires for my car. my camera. kids.
3. I need (have) (want) some
6. I have too many bills. 9. I need (want) a vacation.
cold medicine.

Exercise B: The best answers are first.  Other answers may be OK.

4. I have (want) (need) to polish 7. I have (need) (want)  to mow

1. I want to go swimming.
my shoes. the grass.
2. I need (have) (want) to buy
5. I want to watch a movie. 8. I want to play basketball.
groceries.
3. I have (want) to attend
6. I have to pay my taxes. 9. I need (want) to learn English.
school. 
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