necesario
/ne-se-SA-ryo/
necessary
This image shows a plant receiving water, illustrating that the water is necesario (necessary) for its survival.
necesario(Adjective)
necessary
?general use
required
?more formal
,essential
?emphasizing importance
📝 In Action
Es necesario estudiar para el examen.
A1It's necessary to study for the exam.
El agua es necesaria para la vida.
A2Water is necessary for life.
No es necesario que vengas si no quieres.
B1It's not necessary for you to come if you don't want to.
💡 Grammar Points
Matching the Noun
Like most Spanish adjectives, necesario changes to match the thing it describes. Use necesario for masculine things (un libro necesario) and necesaria for feminine things (una respuesta necesaria).
Always Use 'Ser'
To say something is necessary, you'll almost always use the verb ser (Es necesario...). It's a description of a permanent state or a general truth.
Two Ways to Say What's Necessary
You can say what needs to be done in two common ways. 1) Es necesario + action: Es necesario comer. 2) Es necesario que + person + special verb form: Es necesario que comas (It's necessary that you eat).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the Feminine Form
Mistake: "La información es necesario."
Correction: La información es necesaria. Remember that 'información' is a feminine word, so the adjective needs to match!
Using 'por' Instead of 'para'
Mistake: "Es necesario por el trabajo."
Correction: Es necesario para el trabajo. When you say something is necessary 'for' a purpose or a goal, you always use 'para'.
Packing lo necesario (what is necessary) means taking only the essential items for a journey, as depicted by the minimal contents of the bag.
necesario(Noun (as a phrase))
what is necessary
?as a concept
the necessary amount
?referring to quantity
,the essentials
?basic requirements
📝 In Action
Solo empaca lo necesario para el viaje.
A2Only pack what's necessary for the trip.
Haremos lo necesario para ayudarte.
B1We will do what is necessary to help you.
El equipo tiene todo lo necesario para ganar.
B2The team has everything necessary to win.
💡 Grammar Points
The "Lo + Adjective" Trick
In Spanish, you can put lo in front of a masculine adjective (like necesario) to turn the idea into a noun. lo bueno means 'the good part', and lo necesario means 'the necessary part/thing'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Talking About 'Enough'
This phrase is great when you don't want to specify an exact amount. Instead of listing things, you can just say 'Tengo lo necesario' (I have what I need/I have enough).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: necesario
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between `necesario` and `necesitar`?
`Necesario` is an adjective that describes something as 'necessary' (Es necesario - It is necessary). `Necesitar` is the verb 'to need' (Yo necesito - I need). You use `necesitar` when someone or something is doing the needing.
Do I always have to use 'que' after 'Es necesario'?
Not always! If you're stating a general rule, you can follow it with the basic form of a verb: `Es necesario beber agua.` (It's necessary to drink water). You use `que` when you're saying it's necessary *for someone specific* to do something: `Es necesario que tú bebas agua.` (It's necessary that you drink water).