There are a couple of examples where it says "aller faire les ...". Is this really needed, or at least natural in French? Would it make a difference to say "Je dois faire les courses", or "J'ai besoin de faire les courses"?
J'ai besoin d'aller faire les courses
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Diego B.Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor
J'ai besoin d'aller faire les courses
This question relates to:French lesson "Devoir vs Avoir besoin de to express "to need to" in French"
Asked 5 years ago
Hi Diego,
The expression 'aller faire les courses' is widely used in French for, to go shopping / to do your regular shopping-
Je dois/J'ai besoin de faire les/mes courses = I must go shopping/ do my shopping
Chris, I think you are thinking of the expression 'avoir envie de' to express want/wish.
To express something you need to do/have to do you would use 'devoir' or 'avoir besoin de faire', or even 'falloir' -
Il faut que je fasse mes courses ce matin= I have to do my shopping this morning
Hope this helps!
Chris W. Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
It wouldn't be wrong, really.
J'ai besoin de faire les courses. -- I want to shop.
J'ai besoin d'aller faire les courses. -- I want to go shopping.
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