Demand vs I'm gonna need you to focus

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Demand

Top 1,000 (very common)B2noun

I'm gonna need you to focus

InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Most formal: DemandMost common: Demand
 DemandI'm gonna need you to focus
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/dɪˈmɑːnd/"]/🇺🇸 /["/dɪˈmænd/"]/🇬🇧 //aɪm ˈɡɒnə niːd juː tə ˈfəʊkəs//🇺🇸 //aɪm ˈɡɑːnə nid jʊ tə ˈfoʊkəs//
MeaningTo ask for something forcefully.I need you to pay attention
ExampleThe demand for organic food has been steadily increasing over the past few years.I'm gonna need you to focus during the presentation.
RegisterNeutralInformal
How commonTop 1,000 (very common)Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR levelB2-
Part of speechnoun
Collocationslegitimate, realistic, reasonable, issue, make, present, on demand, demand for, demand from, considerable, enormous, excessive, impose, make, place, demand on, demand upon, big, buoyant, considerable, level, accommodate, cope with, fulfil/​fulfill, grow, increase, rise, in demand, demand among, demand for, supply and demandneed to focus, gonna need, focus on, focus during, focus harder
Antonymssurrender, yield, give-
Common mistakesConfused with 'require' — 'demand' is stronger than 'require'., Using 'demand' without an object — it needs something to demand., Mixing it up with 'request' — 'request' is more polite.Using 'gonna' in formal writing., Confusing 'need' with 'want' without understanding the urgency., Misplacing the phrase in longer sentences.
Usage notesUse 'demand' when you want something with urgency or authority. It's neutral but can be seen as aggressive in casual situations. Avoid using it when making polite requests.Used in casual conversations to emphasize the importance of paying attention. Avoid in very formal settings.

See it in real clips

Demand

Frequently asked questions: Demand vs I'm gonna need you to focus

What's the difference between Demand and I'm gonna need you to focus?

Demand: To ask for something forcefully. I'm gonna need you to focus: I need you to pay attention

Which is more formal: Demand and I'm gonna need you to focus?

Demand is the most formal of these.

Which is more common: Demand and I'm gonna need you to focus?

Demand is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Demand: The demand for organic food has been steadily increasing over the past few years. I'm gonna need you to focus: I'm gonna need you to focus during the presentation.

Can I use Demand and I'm gonna need you to focus interchangeably?

Not always. Demand and I'm gonna need you to focus are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

Related comparisons