using besoin and falloir

[shrewd lava]

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using besoin and falloir

[outer tree]

« avoir besoin de » is more subjective and personal whereas « falloir » is more objective and general. The idea is because « avoir besoin de » can be conjugated into any person whereas « falloir » is impersonal though adding a subordinate clause can change that.

[acoustic oasis]

ohh i see, if its not too much trouble, could you maybe elaborate on what kind of situations you would use them in respectively?

[outer tree]

J’ai besoin d’aller à l’école.
=> I need to go to school, it’s a personal obligation/duty

Il faut aller à l’école
=> In general we all have to go to school, it’s a general necessity, and I as part of the people have to do that as well

[serene bluff]

Another way to illustrate this is "faire pipi"

J'ai besoin de faire pipi → I feel the need to take a pee. It's probably not super urgent (I'd have said "très besoin" if not) but I am personally compelled to use the restroom.

Il faut que je fasse pipi → There is an external force beyond my own personal desires to go to the toilet. It may be that I need soooo badly to pee that it feels like there's an external force pushing me to do so OR it could be that I'm going for a drug test and I'm obligated to pee in a cup.

[acoustic oasis]

ohhhh i see now! thank you both for the explanations they rlly helped me understand :3