Need to Do and Need Doing

We need to do, need doing when we are chiefly concerned with the activity (e.g. watering, dusting, cleaning, etc.) rather than with who does it.

Need doing

Form:

subject + need/needs + gerund

• Your car needs washing.
• The garden needs watering.
• The TV set needs dusting.

Need to do

Form:

subject + need/needs + to be + past participle

• Your car needs to be washed.
• The garden needs to be watered.
• The TV set needs to be dusted.