Breakdown of Necesito estudiar para aprobar el examen.
yo
I
para
to
el
the
estudiar
to study
necesitar
to need
aprobar
to pass
el examen
the exam
Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Spanish grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Necesito estudiar para aprobar el examen.
Why is estudiar in the infinitive form?
In Spanish, certain verbs like necesitar are followed directly by the infinitive to express the need to do something. This pattern is known as necesitar + infinitive.
Why do we use para before aprobar?
Para indicates the purpose or goal of studying. You could translate it as “in order to.” So, necesito estudiar para aprobar literally means “I need to study in order to pass.”
Is aprobar the most common way to say “to pass” an exam in Spain?
Yes. In Spain, people usually use aprobar for passing an exam. Another verb, pasar, is sometimes used, but aprobar is generally preferred in this context.
Can necesito be replaced with tengo que?
Yes, you can say tengo que estudiar instead of necesito estudiar. Both express a sense of necessity. However, tengo que emphasizes obligation (“I have to”), while necesito emphasizes a strong personal need (“I need”).
What if I wanted to say “I need more time to study so I can pass the exam”?
You could say Necesito más tiempo para estudiar, para poder aprobar el examen. The structure is similar: use para to indicate why you need more time (to study), and again to show the purpose of studying (to pass).