This expression expresses an action that was done but was unnecessary. It was a waste of time.
- You needn't have cooked dinner for me. I could have done it myself.
- We needn't have come so early. The class starts in 45 minutes.
- I needn't have brought an umbrella today. It has turned into a beautiful afternoon.
Although this expression is similar to didn't need to~, there is a small difference. We use didn't need to when we are simply saying that it was not necessary (whether or not it was done).
- I needn't have watered the flowers. Just after I finished it started raining.
- It started raining, so I didn't need to water the flowers.
- You didn't need to check your email because I didn't send you any. (I don't know if you checked your email or not.)
- You needn't have checked your email because I didn't send you any. (I know you checked your email. You wasted your time.)
- She didn't need to make a reservation as the restaurant isn't very crowded. (I don't know if she made a reservation or not.)
- She needn't have made a reservation as the restaurant isn't very crowded. (I know she made a reservation, and she wasted her time.)
- He didn't need to ask if there was any space at the hotel. Every room in the city was booked because of the World Cup. (I don't know if he asked.)
- He needn't have asked if there was any space at the hotel. Every room in the city was booked because of the World Cup. (I know he asked, and it was a waste of time.)
Exercise
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