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Thread: neednt

  1. #1
    ridvann is offline Member
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    Default neednt

    Hi,

    Can anyone say that it is grammatically correct?

    I needn't you (to) love me anymore.

    Thanks...

  2. #2
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    5jj
    5jj is offline Moderator
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    Default Re: neednt

    It is not grammatically correct.

    "I don't need you to love me any more" works, though it seems rather heartless.
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    ridvann is offline Member
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    Threadstarter / Original Poster

    Default Re: neednt

    But we can use 'needn't like a modal verb in negative sentences like : You needn’t buy any eggs. We have plenty at home.

    I couldn't get that why the first sentence I wrote is incorrect. Is it because of the pronoun 'you' ?

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    Default Re: neednt

    Modal 'need', like all modal verbs, cannot have a direct object. It can be followed only by the bare infinitive of a lexical verb
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    Default Re: neednt

    You needn't love me anymore....

    may be grammatically acceptable. However, I wouldn't really say that.
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    Default Re: neednt

    Quote Originally Posted by ridvann View Post
    But we can use 'needn't like a modal verb in negative sentences like : You needn’t buy any eggs. We have plenty at home.

    I couldn't get that why the first sentence I wrote is incorrect. Is it because of the pronoun 'you' ?
    'Needn't' is modal, as you've said.- the form is <subj> +needn't + <verb>....<etc>.

    You can't follow 'needn't' by anything but a verb [off the top-of-my-head - I wouldn't be surprised if someone found a counter-example ]

    You'll see from 5jj's example that if you're talking about someone else's obligation - and you want to specify a subject for the following verb - you don't say 'needn't'; you use '<subj> don't need <do-er> to'. To use your example. 'You needn't buy eggs' could also be 'I don't need you to buy eggs'.

    b
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    ridvann is offline Member
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    Threadstarter / Original Poster

    Default Re: neednt

    I got it...Thanks... I have one more question about it.

    I don’t have to take the minibus to school. I go in my car. (That's ok)

    I needn't take the minibus to school. I go in my car. (Is it ok?)

    In my grammar book, it is written that the second sentence is wrong because of the habit and simple present in this way. Is that right or not?

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    Default Re: neednt

    Quote Originally Posted by ridvann View Post
    I got it...Thanks... I have one more question about it.

    I don’t have to take the minibus to school. I go in my car. (That's ok - if you're talking about a daily routine, say. Otherwise it would be 'I'm going by car ' or 'I can go by car' or something.)

    I needn't take the minibus to school. I go in my car. (Is it ok?)

    In my grammar book, it is written that the second sentence is wrong because of the habit and simple present in this way. Is that right or not?
    The difference between 'needn't' and 'don't have to' doesn't change anything. In either case, 'I go by car' refers to a habit.

    b

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    ridvann is offline Member
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    Threadstarter / Original Poster

    Default Re: neednt

    So we can use 'needn't' in this case, is that right?

    I needn't take the minibus to school. I go by my car.

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    Default Re: neednt

    Quote Originally Posted by ridvann View Post
    So we can use 'needn't' in this case, is that right?

    I needn't take the minibus to school. I go by my car.
    Yes.
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