In this lesson, we’re looking at how to use the modal verbs MUST, MUSTN’T and NEEDN’T.
There are ten other lessons in this course that deal with modal verbs, and if you’re looking to learn more about MUST, we have another lesson that looks at HAVE TO vs MUST.
Have fun with the lesson, and don’t forget to try out the quizzes.
– James.
Lesson Contents
When do we use MUST / MUSTN’T / NEEDN’T?
You must do something means “it is necessary that you do something”:
Don’t eat all the sausages, you must leave some for the others!
The bus is leaving in a minute, we must hurry.
You mustn’t do something means “it is necessary that you NOT do something”:
You mustn’t tell her about the party.
We must take our time, we mustn’t rush.
You needn’t do something means “you don’t have to do something, but you can if you want”:
You can come to the picnic if you want, but you needn’t come if you don’t want to.
The bus leaves in three hours, we needn’t rush.
Complete the NEEDN’T sentences with a verb. Make sure you add the verb in its correct tense.
Your Words
| ask | buy | come | explain | tell | walk |
Using the expression DON'T NEED TO
Instead of NEEDN’T you can use do/doesn’t need to:
The bus leaves in three hours, we needn’t rush.
or
The bus leaves in three hours, we don’t need to rush.
Using the expression NEEDN'T HAVE
Have a look at this example:
James wanted to go for a walk, he saw big black clouds in the sky so he took his umbrella. In the end, it didn’t rain. So he said:
I needn’t have taken my umbrella.
I needn’t have taken my umbrella means “I took the umbrella, but it was not necessary”.
Let’s compare needn’t do and needn’t have done:
It won’t rain, you needn’t take your umbrella.
(it’s not necessary)
It didn’t rain, you needn’t have taken your umbrella.
(you took your umbrella, but it was not necessary)
Complete the NEEDN’T HAVE sentences.
The difference between DIDN'T NEED TO and NEEDN'T HAVE
I didn’t need to means “it was not necessary for me to do” (and I knew this at the time).
You can also use “I didn’t have to” in these situations:
I didn’t need to wake up early this morning, so I didn’t.
I didn’t need to wake up early this morning, but I did.
I needn’t have done something means “I did it, but now I know it wasn’t necessary”:
I woke up early to do some work on my computer, but there wasn’t any electricity so I needn’t have woken up so early.
Add MUST, MUSTN’T or NEEDN’T to the sentences.
