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Liveinjapan Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

don't need to get / needn't get

Maybe I should've searched past threads but please tell me.

You don't need to get that.
You needn't get that.

Do they mean the same?

Thanks
LiJ
  

Top answer

You will need a Brit to answer you, I think. S.

— BarbaraPA

  • You will need a Brit to answer you, I think.
  • S.
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6 Answers
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You will need a Brit to answer you, I think. "You needn't..." would sound quite odd in the U.S.
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"don't need to" = AmEng
"needn't" = BrEng
I hear "needn't" in the States; I'm not sure if you hear both in England or not.
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Got it!
Thanks, GG and Philip.
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LiveinjapanYou don't need to get that. (nedd is a verb)
You needn't get that. (need is a modal)
It's related question.

You needn't to be a millionaire to live in this world.

need is a verb here but sometimes we use needn't as don't need to, right?

Thanks
LiJ
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I think 'needn't' is always a modal, so 'needn't be' is a proper form. Some poeple use 'needn't' follewed by 'to infinitive' according to Google, although I don't use this.
Thanks.
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In Britain we use both forms in the same way in the present.
e.g. 'I don't need to go', or 'I needn't go'.

In the past we use 'needn't have' for things that were done but were not necessary.
e.g. 'I needn't have sent her the information because she knew it already'. (You sent her the information but it wasn't necessary.)

'I didn't need to send her the information.' (Y
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