What is Require in English? The structures, usage and practice exercises

Require is an important grammar topic in English, meaning "to demand or need something". However, besides the common usage, there is a broader range of knowledge related to the Require structure that you should understand clearly. In this article, PREP will help answer the questions: What does Require in English mean? Should it be followed by "to + verb" or "-ing form"? How many common prepositions can be used with Require?

I. What is Require in English?

What does Require mean? According to the Cambridge Dictionary, Require is a verb that means to need or demand something or to ask someone to do something. Here are some examples:

• The job requires a minimum of five years of experience in the field. 
• The new law required all residents to register their vehicles with the local authorities. 

II. The usage of Require in English

Many people wonder whether to use "Require to V" or "Require Ving." The answer from PREP is that the Require structure can be used with both verb forms. How is Require in English used? Let's explore the details in the table below!

III. Some notes on Require in English

There are some important notes to keep in mind to use Require in English:

• The usage of Require: Require is often used in a sentence to indicate a requirement or necessary condition for an action or situation. It is typically followed by a noun or a clause.
• Nouns or pronouns after Require:
  • When using a noun after "Require." For example: The job requires experience in project management.
  • You can also use pronouns like "it", "this", and "that" after Require to refer back to something mentioned earlier in the text. For example: "If you want to become a Data Analyst, you need to have 5-year working experience. This position requires it.
• The usage of "to" after Require: When indicating a specific action that a person or object needs to perform, you can use "to" after the Require structure, followed by the infinitive verb. For example: "The teacher requires students to submit their essays by Friday."
• The usage of "that" clause after Require: When expressing a requirement or condition in a more detailed way, you can use the "that" clause after "Require." For example: "The law requires that all employees wear safety helmets in the construction area."
• Use the Require structure carefully: Require implies seriousness and diligence. When using this word, make sure you are referring to a condition or requirement that is genuinely important and avoid overusing it.
• Present or future tense: The Require structure is often used in the present or future tense to indicate current or forthcoming conditions or requirements. For example:
  • The project requires additional funding to be completed on time. 
  • The job requires a bachelor’s degree.

IV. Equivalent words/phrases to Require in English

Besides using only Require to mean "to demand or need something", are there other words we can use? Below is a list of words/phrases that have similar meanings to Require that PREP has gathered and compiled. You can refer to and use them to avoid repetition in English:

V. Idioms including Require in English

Below, PREP has gathered and compiled some idioms containing the word "Require." Take a look at them for reference:

VI. Exercises on Require in English with detailed answers

To have a better understanding of how to use the Require structure, you can complete the following two practice exercises and check the answers afterward:

1. Exercises

Exercise 1: Give the correct form of Require in the following sentences:

• My job _______ strong communication skills. (Require) 
• Last year, the project  _______ a lot of overtime work. (Require) 
• Right now, we  _______  additional resources to meet the deadline. (Require) 
• The company  _______  employees to complete a safety training program recently. (Require) 
• Tomorrow, the meeting _______  everyone’s full attention. (Require) 

Exercise 2: Give the correct form of the verbs in parenthesis:

• The construction project requires (install) new safety measures to ensure the well-being of the workers.
• The manager requires employees (attend) a mandatory training session next week.
• The teacher requires students (complete) the assignment by Friday.
• The job requires (attend) regular meetings with clients to discuss project updates.
• To become a skilled chef, it requires (practice) cooking techniques every day.

2. Answer keys

Exercise 1:

• requires
• required
• are requiring
• has required
• will require

Exercise 2:

• installing
• to attend
• to complete
• attending
• practicing

VII. Take the First Step Towards IELTS Success 

Hopefully, the knowledge about the Require in English that PREP shared in the article above has helped you understand what Require means and the prepositions it is used with. If Band 7+ is your goal, our expert strategies will get you there—check them out :

• IELTS online course: Master Every Section of IELTS