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Tenjing Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

are didn't need to have and needn't have interchangeable??

Please explain with sentences.
Is this sentence correct?
A. You need to have asked him before you took his bike.
B. You have bought just a pair of shoes. You need to have bought more.
  

Top answer

When you ask about "didn't need to have" and "needn't have", do you mean "have" to be the main verb, or are you asking about "didn't need to have + past participle" and "needn't have + past participle"? If the latter, "didn't need to have + past participle" is not good English. Neither of your sentences feels natural.

— GPY

  • When you ask about "didn't need to have" and "needn't have", do you mean "have" to be the main verb, or are you asking about "didn't need to have + past participle" and "needn't have + past participle"?
  • If the latter, "didn't need to have + past participle" is not good English.
  • Neither of your sentences feels natural.
  • Probably you mean this: A.
  • You should have asked him before you took his bike.
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1 Answers
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When you ask about "didn't need to have" and "needn't have", do you mean "have" to be the main verb, or are you asking about "didn't need to have + past participle" and "needn't have + past participle"? If the latter, "didn't need to have + past participle" is not good English.

Neither of your sentences feels natural. Probably you mean this:

A. You should have asked him be
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