In this lesson, we will take a closer look at modal verbs and constructions that express the absence of the need to do something. We will see examples of their use and find out grammatical features and semantic differences.

Example:

She needn't come with us if she doesn't want to.

However, if we use the didn "t need to structure, we indicate that there was no need to perform an action, while it does not matter to us at all whether we did it in the end or not.

Don't need to---------didn't need to+infinitive

Example:

I didn't need to take my umbrella. (We don't know if he took an umbrella or not)

I didn't need to wash the dishes because there was a dishwasher in the kitchen. (We don't know if he washed the dishes by hand or not.)

Most often, didn "t need to means that the action was NOT performed, since this was not necessary.

Example:

I didn't need to do my homework so we went to the movies. (NOT: I needn't have done my homework so we went to the movies).

I didn't need to hear that so I didn't answer when he called back three more times.

(NOT: I needn't have heard that so I didn't answer when he called back three more times).

Open the brackets using either needn't have or didn't need to.

1. We had plenty of petrol in the tank so I (fill up).

2. I (prepare) all that food. They phoned to say they wouldn't be coming.

3. We (wait) for long for them. They arrived just after us.

4. Today was the last day of school and we (attend) classes in the afternoon.

5. I (take) any money to the - I didn't realize it museum was free to enter.

6. I (work) today but I went as I knew they were really busy on this new contract.

7. You (say) anything to Carla about the broken vase. She found out anyway.

8. Our boss told us we had an extra three days to finish the project so we (work) so hard.

Answers: 1. didn't need to; 2. needn't have prepared; 3. didn't need to; 4. didn't need to; 5. needn't have taken; 6. didn't need to; 7. needn't have said;

There is another verb that expresses the lack of need - don "t have to, we can use it instead of don't need to and needn't, without changing the meaning.

For example, the phrase "he doesn't have to get up early" can be translated into English in three ways:

  • He doesn't have to get up early.
  • He doesn't need to get up early.
  • He needn't get up early.

The don "t have to construction can be used in the present, past and future tenses.

presentSimple:

You don't have to come early (see example of use in Figure 3).

past simple:

You didn't have to come early.

Future Simple:

You won't have to come early.

Rice. 3. Construction don "t have to ()

Dialogue

Read the dialogue and pay attention to the usage of needn't, don't need to and don't have to.

A student is asking the teacher about his homework.

teacher: You don't have to write a long essay; a short one will be okay!

student: What about the grammar exercise? Do we need to revise the lesson before we can do it?

teacher: No, you needn't do the exercise at home as we will surely do it together in the next English lesson.

student: OK! Good bye, sir.

Homework

Choose the correct option:

  • You needn't have bought/don't have to buy any eggs. I've got plenty.
  • You don't need to finish/ needn't have finished the work if you are to leave, it can wait.
  • I needn't go / didn't have to go there. Nobody came anyway.
  • How much did you pay for the yesterday's performance?

- I didn't need to/needn't have paid: I was given an invitation.

  • She doesn't need to use /needn't have used my laptop.
  • He didn't have to go/ needn't have gone, everybody was glad to see him.

Insert the most appropriate verb expressing the absence of necessity. Remember, WhatoptionsMaybebesome.

  • You _______ pay for internet in Sweden, because there’s free wi-fi everywhere.
  • I_________ called her. She wasn't glad to hear me at all.
  • John _______ work next Wednesday. It's his birthday so I'm giving him a day-off.
  • I _________ help Sarah. She said she wanted to prepare everything herself.
  • Kelly ________ gone to Boston to visit her father. He turned out to leave the city.
  • James _______ wash his clothes himself. His sister always does this for him.

Translate the following sentences:

  • You didn't have to come to the hospital. She was closed.
  • In America, the military doesn't have to pay for treatment - it's free.
  • You don't have to hand in this poem today - I'm in a hurry for a meeting.
  • You didn't have to lie to Mary; she never tells other people's secrets.
  • The young girl did not need to take these medicines, she did not drink.

Modal verb need used as an insufficient and as a regular verb.

Need as a regular verb

As a correct verb need means "required", "required". Regular verb need used as a regular verb (takes the ending -s in the form of the third person singular, takes the ending –ed in the past tense, interrogative and negative sentences are formed with the help of an auxiliary verb, etc.). After the correct verb need followed by an infinitive with a particle to.

For example:
One needs to be punctual.
Need to be punctual.

He needed some more time to decide the question.
To him need to there was still time to resolve the issue.

Do you need to go now?
to you now need to leave?

I don't need to talk to him.
To me no need talk to him.

Need as an insufficient verb

As an insufficient verb need has only the present tense form and is used only in interrogative and negative sentences with the meaning of the need to perform an action or lack thereof.

For example:
You need not work today.
You don't have to work Today.

need I go now?
To me Need to go Now?

need we reserve seats?
Us need to book places?

After insufficient verb need followed by an infinitive without a particle to and it doesn't take endings -s in the third person singular form.

For example:
He need not wait. (NOT He needs not wait.)
To him no need wait.

You need not come.
You no need come.

Interrogative and negative sentences with insufficient verb need formed without the help of auxiliary verbs.

For example:
Need I come again? (NOT Do I need to come again?)
Do I need to come again?

need rarely used as an insufficient verb in American English, the verb is preferred instead have to .

Using the modal verb need

need as an insufficient verb can be used to ask permission, or to give permission. It is not used to describe ordinary, habitual, regular activities.

Compare:
You need not work today.
You no need Today work. (need )

You don't need to work on Sundays.
You don't have to work on Sundays. ( need )

You need not pay for this call.
You no need to pay for this call. ( need used as an insufficient verb, it describes a special case.)

In most countries, you don't need to pay for emergency calls.
In most countries no need to pay for emergency calls. ( need used as a regular verb, it describes a general case.)

need not used in negative questions:

Need I wait any longer?
How much longer do I have to wait?

Need he come again?
Does he need to come again?

If the answer to a question with a verb need negative, you need to say "No, he need not", or "No, you need not". But if the answer is yes, the verb is used must: "Yes, he must", or "Yes, you must".

Need not + perfect infinitive

Structure need not + perfect infinitive indicates that an unnecessary action has been taken.

For example:
they need not have come all this way.
Them didn't have to come here. ( They came here, but there was no need for it.)

We need not have waited for his approval.
Us didn't have to wait his approval. ( We waited for his approval, but it was not necessary.)

You need not have bought a new car.
Didn't have to buy new car.

You need not have paid for that call.
Didn't have to pay for this call.

note that need not have does not mean the same as did not need to. Usage did not need to only shows that there was no need to perform an action, and it does not matter whether it was actually performed or not.

Compare:
I need not have bought the book.
I didn't need to buy the book.
To me didn't have to buy book.

Both English sentences above are translated into Russian in the same way, however, the first sentence emphasizes that the book was bought, although it was not necessary, while the second sentence only emphasizes the absence of the need to buy the book, and it is not known whether it was actually bought deed.

Need + present participle

In British English after need can be used "-ing"-form verb. The use of such a structure has the same meaning as the use of the verb in the passive form.

For example:
your hair needs washing. (= Your hair needs to be washed.)
Your hair need to wash.

The carpet needs cleaning. (= The carpet needs to be cleaned.)
Carpet need to be cleaned.

The roof needs repairing.
roof need to be fixed.

This article will focus on a very popular English verb need. It is translated into Russian by the words “to need something”, “to have a need”. In a sentence, this verb can be both semantic and modal. What does it depend on? Read our article to find out. We will tell you about all the features of the use of the verb need and introduce you to the design needn't have done.

When is the modal verb need used in English

semantic need and modal need are two different verbs. Let's see what are the features of the modal verb need:

  • this verb does not change in tenses, it has one form - need;
  • in a sentence it is followed by an infinitive without a particle to – need to do something;
  • negative sentences are formed with the particle not – need not (needn't) do something;
  • in questions need comes first instead of the auxiliary verb - need someone to do something?

What is a modal verb for? need? This verb is used mostly in negative sentences. It communicates that an action can be performed, but it is not necessary. In translation into Russian, we will use the words “not necessary”, “optional”.

You needn't open the window, but you can do it if you want. - Optional to open window, but you can do that if you want.

The number of tickets is limited, but they needn't worry. I have already bought a couple. – The number of tickets is limited, but they no need to worry. I already bought a couple.

In affirmative sentences, the modal verb need found mostly in formal contexts. Most often it is accompanied by some kind of negative word ( no one / nobody- nobody, nothing- nothing never- never). Such phrases are translated into Russian with the words “should not”, “no need”.

Nobody needs to worry about their safety. - Nobody should worry for your safety.

If you need to express permission not to do something, you can use both semantic and modal verbs need. The meaning of the phrase will not change.

You needn't water the flower. I have already done it. = You don't need to water the flower. I have already done it. - You no need (you can not) to water the flower. I already did it.

If we are talking about a well-known fact, you should use only the semantic verb need:

You don't need to be very rich to get a good education. - No need (not necessary) be very rich in order to get a good education.

You don't need to be an employee to enter the building. - No need be an employee to enter the building.

When the semantic verb need is used in English

semantic verb need tells us that we need some object or we need to perform some action. At the semantic need There are such combinations in English:

  • to need something- need something.

    It's raining outside. I need an umbrella. - It is raining outside. To me need an umbrella.

    A cat is hungry. It needs some food. - The cat is hungry. To him need food.

  • to need to do something- to have to do something.

    He needs to win this game to stay in the team. - To him necessary(He must) win this game to stay on the team.

  • To need doing something = to need to be done- something needs/should be done.

    These forms are used when we want to say that some action should be done, but do not specify who should perform it.

    This room needs cleaning / needs to be cleaned, it's too dirty. - This room need to clean up She's too dirty.

    The cat's claws need cutting / need to be cut, they are too long. – cat claws need a haircut they are too long.

semantic verb need can be used in negative sentences to say that we don't need something or we don't need to do something. Negation is built using an auxiliary verb don't/doesn't.

I don't need your money. I can make my own. - To me Not needed your money. I can make money myself.

He doesn't need to go to the bank tomorrow. He has already been there today. - To him no need go to the bank tomorrow. He was already there today.

Questions with a semantic verb need also formed with auxiliary verbs:

Do I need to come to you tomorrow? - To me need to come to you tomorrow?

Does he need to leave? He has just come. - To him need to leave? He just arrived.

As a semantic verb need can be used in the past and future tenses:

I needed to see you. - To me had to see you.

I needed your help yesterday. - Yesterday I needed your help.

I will always need you. - You always me you will be needed.

He will need to consult a doctor. - To him will need consult a doctor.

Didn't need to vs. needn't have done

In order to indicate an action in the past, we use the forms didn't need to(semantic need) And needn't have done(modal need). Both of them will be translated into Russian with the words “it was not necessary”, “there was no need”. However, there is a difference in meaning between them:

  • didn't need to reports that the action was not necessary and we did not perform it;
  • needn't have done– there was no need, but we still performed the action.

I didn't need to buy (I didn't have to, I didn't buy it)

I needn't have bought a new computer. The old one worked normally. - There was no need to buy new computer. The old one worked fine. (shouldn't have, but I bought it anyway)

As you can see, the meanings of the word need as semantic and modal verbs are not very different from each other. But in order to use the verb need right, you need to know some nuances. We hope we managed to clarify them, and you will actively use need in his speech.

And in order to practice using the verb need in practice, we offer to pass our test.

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Test

Modal verb need in English

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Fill in the gaps with the appropriate forms of the verb need.

Exercise 1.

The wind is very strong today. You … put your coat on.

Task 2.

This flower doesn't look well. It…watering.

Task 3.

No one … know the name of the candidate.

Task 4.

My boots are dirty. They … cleaning.

and as a regular (semantic) verb.

Need as a regular verb

As a correct verb need means " required«, « need". Regular verb need used as a regular verb (takes the ending -s in the form of the third person singular, takes the ending –ed in the past tense, interrogative and negative sentences are formed with the help of an auxiliary verb, etc.). After the correct verb need followed by an infinitive with a particle to.

For example:

One needs to be punctual. -You have to be punctual.

He needed some more time to decide the question. - He needed more time to resolve the issue.

Do you need to go now?-Do you need to leave now?

I don't need to talk to him. - I don't need to talk to him.

This means that there is no need due to external circumstances.

You don't need to change. It's a straight line. -You don't need to transfer. This is a straight line.

Need as a modal verb

As a modal verb need has only the form of the present tense and is used only in interrogative and negative sentences with the meaning of the need to perform an action or lack thereof - “ need to«, « necessary«.

For example:

You need not work today. - You don't have to work today.

need I go now?-I need to go now?

need we reserve seats? -Do we need to make reservations?

After insufficient verb need followed by an infinitive without a particle to and it doesn't take endings -s in the third person singular form.

For example:

He need not wait.(NOT He needs not wait.) - He doesn't have to wait.

You need not come. - You don't have to come.

Interrogative and negative sentences with insufficient verb need formed without the help of auxiliary verbs.

For example:

need I come again? ( but not Do I need to come again?) - Do I need to come again?

need rarely used as an insufficient verb in American English, the verb is preferred instead have to.

Using the modal verb need

need how a modal verb can be used to ask permission, or to give permission. It is not used to describe ordinary, habitual, regular activities.

Compare:

You need not work today. -You don't have to work today.

(need )

You don't need to work on Sundays. -You don't have to work on Sundays.

(need )

You need not pay for this call. - You don't have to pay for this call.

(need used as an insufficient verb, it describes a special case.)

In most countries, you don't need pay for emergency calls. - In most countries, you do not need to pay for emergency calls.

(need used as a regular verb, it describes a general case.)

need not used in negative questions:

need I wait any longer? - How long do I (should) wait?

need he come again? - Does he need to come again?

If the answer to a question with a verb need negative, I must say "No, he need not", or "No, you need not". But if the answer is yes, the verb is used must:"Yes, he must", or "Yes, you must".

Need not + perfect infinitive

Structure need not + perfect infinitive indicates that an unnecessary action has been taken.

they need not have come all this way. -They didn't need to come here. (They came here, but there was no need for it.)

We need not have waited for his approval. - Us didn't have to wait his approval. ( We waited for his approval, but it was not necessary.)

You need not have bought a new car. - Didn't have to buy new car.

You need not have paid for that call. - There was no need to pay for this call.

note that need not have does not mean the same as did not need to. Usage did not need to only shows that there was no need to perform an action, and it does not matter whether it was actually performed or not.

Compare:

I need not have bought the book. -I didn't need to buy the book. -I didn't have to buy the book.

Both English sentences above are translated into Russian in the same way, however, the first sentence emphasizes that the book was bought, although it was not necessary, while the second sentence only emphasizes the absence of the need to buy the book, and it is not known whether it was actually bought deed.

Need + present participle

In British English after need can be used "-ing"-form verb. The use of such a structure has the same meaning as the use of the verb in the passive form.

For example:

your hair needs washing. (= Your hair needs to be washed.) - Your hair needs to be washed.

The carpet needs cleaning. (= The carpet needs to be cleaned.) -The carpet needs to be cleaned.

The roof needs repairing. - The roof needs to be repaired.

So, once again about the difference in use as a correct (semantic) and as a modal verb.