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Anonymous Posted 20 years ago
Grammar

needn't have done something

hi,

Is it possible to use "needn't have done something" when I knew I wasn't necessary but I did it anyway

e.g.

I needn't have done it but I wanted to (I knew it wasn't necessary but, for instance, I wanted to show off)

is it possible to use "didn't need to do something" when I didn't know about something ?

e.g

I didn't need to save his life but to tell you the truth I didn't know it wasn't necessary

thx
  

Top answer

"I didn't need to" is just fine (for American usage). Also, "I didn't have to" has the same meaning. I didn't need to go to the library because none of my books was due, but I wanted to see if one I've been waiting for has come in.

— BarbaraPA

  • "I didn't need to" is just fine (for American usage).
  • Also, "I didn't have to" has the same meaning.
  • I didn't need to go to the library because none of my books was due, but I wanted to see if one I've been waiting for has come in.
  • ")
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17 Answers
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"I didn't need to" is just fine (for American usage).

Also, "I didn't have to" has the same meaning.

I didn't need to go to the library because none of my books was due, but I wanted to see if one I've been waiting for has come in.

(And, of course, any parent who has to stop by the side of the road and asks "Why didn't you go before we left home?!" will hear "But I didn'
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Hi,

Is it possible to use "needn't have done something" when I knew It wasn't necessary but I did it anyway

e.g. I needn't have done it but I wanted to (I knew it wasn't necessary but, for instance, I wanted to show off) Yes

is it possible to use "didn't need to d
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I know there is a difference between Amercian English and British English as fas as those items are concerned but let's focus on British English only.

Coming back to "didn't need to do something", does it always mean that if I use that item it means that I'm always aware that something was not necessary ?

I didn't need to save his life but to tell you the tr
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Anonymous
In that sentence I meant that saving his life wan't necessary and I didn't save his life becasue I knew about it but because it was just a coincidence that I didn't even tried to rescue him

Huh? I don't understand what you're saying.
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Hi,

Yes, you seem to be 'tying yourself up in knots'.

Best wishes, Clive
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So... I didn't need to save his life means:

1) I knew it wasn't necessary so I didn't even try

2) I didn't know it wasn't necessary (because nobody told me that) that's why I didn't even try

is it clear now ?
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Hi again,

So... I didn't need to save his life means:

1) I knew it wasn't necessary so I didn't even try No. It means 'It wasn't necessary'. It doesn't necessarily mean I knew that at the time. Perhaps I knew, perhaps I didn't. It also doesn't say whether I tried or whether I didn't try.

2) I
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Maybe if you used another example. It's hard to imagine a situation in which one wouldn't try to save someone's life if you knew about it.

How about something like not needing to meet someone at the airport... you might have a better chance of coming up with examples for that.

I didn't need to meet Jim at the airport becuase his friend met him instead.

I didn't need to
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Wait a minute Clive... needn't have done means that something wasn't necessary but it DID happen (that's why I ask whether the performer of the action knew about it or not)

and... didn't need to do something means that it wasn't necessary and it DIDN'T happen (and I'd like to know whether it is possible that the performer didn't know it somehow and he or she didn't do it - e.g. not becaus
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Hi,

Wait a minute Clive... needn't have done means that something wasn't necessary but it DID happen (that's why I ask whether the performer of the action knew about it or not) Hmmm. This is making my brain hurt.

I needn't have telephoned Tom. I agree that this strongly 'suggests' that I did call him. However, it doesn't say for sure that I ca
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