How do you use "need / needn't" in a sentence?

You needn't worry about it. Do I need to bring anything? You needn't have bought flowers!' (but you did) She didn't need to wait.' (unclear if she did)

need / needn't

Q: What does "need / needn't" mean?

Necessity and lack of necessity 'Need' can be modal (needn't) or ordinary verb (don't need to). 'Needn't' is more British. 'Needn't have done' = did but it wasn't necessary. 'Didn't need to' = unclear if done.

Grammar Pattern BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★☆ Common Neutral

Meaning: Necessity and lack of necessity

必要性和非必要性

Necesidad y falta de necesidad

必要性と不必要性

필요성과 불필요성

'Need' can be modal (needn't) or ordinary verb (don't need to). 'Needn't' is more British. 'Needn't have done' = did but it wasn't necessary. 'Didn't need to' = unclear if done.

'Needn't have done'表示做了但不必要：'You needn't have bought flowers'（但你买了）。'Didn't need to'可以表示没做或做了但不必要。注意这两种形式的区别。

'Needn't have done' significa que se hizo pero no era necesario: 'You needn't have bought flowers' (pero lo hiciste). 'Didn't need to' puede significar que no se hizo o que se hizo pero no era necesario. Nota la diferencia.

「Needn't have done」はしたけど必要なかったことを意味します：「You needn't have bought flowers」（でも買った）。「Didn't need to」はしなかった、またはしたけど必要なかったことを意味できます。違いに注意してください。

'need'는 조동사(needn't)로도 일반 동사(don't need to)로도 쓸 수 있습니다. 'needn't'는 영국식에서 더 흔합니다. 'needn't have done' = 했지만 할 필요가 없었음. 'didn't need to' = 했는지 여부가 불분명.

Examples

You needn't worry about it.
你不必担心。
No necesitas preocuparte por eso.
心配する必要はありません。
걱정할 필요 없습니다.
Do I need to bring anything?
我需要带什么东西吗？
¿Necesito traer algo?
何か持っていく必要がありますか？
뭔가 가져가야 하나요?
You needn't have bought flowers!' (but you did)
你不必买花的！'（但你买了）
¡No necesitabas haber comprado flores!' (pero lo hiciste)
花を買う必要はなかったのに！'（でも買った）
꽃을 살 필요 없었는데!' (하지만 샀음)
She didn't need to wait.' (unclear if she did)
她不需要等。'（不确定她是否等了）
Ella no necesitaba esperar.' (no está claro si lo hizo)
彼女は待つ必要がなかった。'（待ったかどうか不明）
그녀는 기다릴 필요가 없었습니다.' (기다렸는지 불분명)

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: spoken, written, everyday

Tone: permissive

✓ Do Say

You needn't come if you don't want to.
你不必担心。
No necesitas preocuparte.
心配する必要はありません。
You needn't come if you don't want to.
I didn't need to hurry.
我需要带什么东西吗？
¿Necesito traer algo?
何か持っていく必要がありますか？
I didn't need to hurry.
You needn't have waited. (but you did)
你不必买花的！（但你买了）
¡No necesitabas haber comprado flores! (pero lo hiciste)
花を買う必要はなかったのに！（でも買った）
You needn't have waited. (하지만 기다렸음)

✗ Don't Say

You needn't to worry. (no 'to' with modal)
You needn't to worry. (조동사에는 'to'를 붙이지 않음)
She needs go now. (needs to go)
She needs go now. (needs to go로 사용해야 함)

Origin & History

Modal and lexical necessity verb

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal