Needs doing vs needs to be done?

Hi everyone, who can tell me what the difference might be between ‘a lot of things that need doing’ and ‘a lot of things that need to be done’? Many thanks in advance, grazie mille.

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I suggest that one is more positive. Imagine a room in your house has not been decorated for some time. You look at it and think maybe that you’ll do it possibly next year and you say -

The sitting room needs decorating I know but I think I’ll leave it as it is for the time being.

On the other hand in a more positive manner you say -

I had a good look at the paintwork in the dining room. It looks awful and really the whole room needs to be decorated as soon as possible.

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Does ‘needs doing’ mean that something should be done in the indeterminate future? Whereas ‘needs to be done’ shows necessity. Right?

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Hi Irina,

That seems a good summary.

Alan

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Now it makes sense. Many thanks for your explanation, @Alan

Also, as far as I can see ‘needs to be done’ seems to be more specific as in ‘this task needs to be completed by 5pm’. You wouldn’t use ‘needs doing’ in connection with a deadline, would you?

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