Page 374 - Practical English Usage 3ed - Michael Swan, Oxford

e Arabic is used for the language spoken in Arab countries; in other cases, the normal adjective is Arab. Arabian is used in a few fixed expressions and place names (e.g. Saudi Arabian, the Arabian Sea).
f Note the pronunciation of words like Irishman/men, Dutchman/men: the singular is the same as the plural U'amJman, 'dAtJmanj).
365 near (to)
Near can be used as a preposition. Near to is also possible with the same meaning, but is less common.
We live near (to) the station.
I put my bag down near (to) the door. Near (to) can be followed by an -ing form.
I came very near (to) hitting him. For ·;118 fonns after to, see 298.2.
For the difference between Tlearest and next, see 375.
She was near (to) despair.
366 need
1 ordinary verb: Everybody needs to rest
Need most often has ordinary verb forms: the third person singular has -s, and questions and negatives are made with do. Need is usually followed by an infinitive with to.
Everybody needs to rest sometimes.
Do we need to reserve seats on the train?
2 modal auxiliary forms: he needn't; need 17
Need can also have the same present-tense forms as modal auxiliary verbs: the third person singular has no -s, and questions and negatives are made without do. In this case, need is normally followed by an infinitive without to.
She needn't reserve a seat - there'll be plenty ofroom.
These forms are used mainly in negative sentences (needn't); but they are also possible in questions, after if, and in other 'non-affinnative' structures (see 381).
You needn't fill in a form. Need I fill in a form? I wonder if I need fill in a form.
This is the only form you need fill in.
(BUT NOT ¥81t needfUl in (lform.)
These forms are more common in BrE; in ArnE have to I don't have to are preferred.
3 needn't, need 17: immediate necessity
These modal forms of need normally refer to immediate necessity. They are often used to ask for or give permission - usually permission not to do something. They are not used to talk about habitual, general necessity. Compare:
near (to) 365
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