Exercise 1
Which is correct?
1) We haven't got much time. We must / mustn't hurry.
2) We've got plenty of time. We mustn't / don't need to hurry.
3) I have to talk to Gary. I must / mustn't remember to call him.
4) I have to talk to Gary. I mustn't / needn't forget to call him.
5) There's plenty of time for you to make up your mind. You mustn't / don't need to decide now.
6) We needn't / mustn't wash these tomatoes. They've already been washed.
7) This is a valuable book. You must / needn't take good care of it and you mustn't / don't need to lose it.
8) A: What sort of house do you want to buy? Something big?
B: Well, it mustn't / needn't be big – that's not so important. But it must I mustn't have a nice garden- that's essential.
Show answers
1)
1 must
2 don't need to
3 must
4 mustn't
5 don't need to
6 needn't
7 must ___ mustn't
8 needn't … must
Exercise 2
Complete the sentences. Use needn't + one of these verbs:
ask come explain leave walk
1) We've got plenty of time. We ________ yet.
2) I can manage the shopping alone. You ________ with me.
3) We ________ all the way home. We can get a taxi.
4) Just help yourself if you'd like more to eat. You ________ first.
5) I understand the situation perfectly. You ________ further.
Show answers
2)
1 needn’t leave
2 needn't come
3 needn't walk
4 needn't ask
5 needn't explain
Exercise 3
Write two sentences for each situation. Use needn'thave in the first sentence and couldhave in the second (as in the example).
1) Why did you rush? Why didn't you take your time?
You needn’t have rushed. You could have taken your time.
2) Why did you walk ho me? Why didn't you take a taxi?
________
3) Why did you stay at a hotel? Why didn't you stay with us?
________
4) Why did she phone me in the middle of the night? Why didn't she wait until the morning?
________
5) Why did you shout at me? Why weren't you more patient?
________
6) Why did you leave without saying anything? Why didn't you say goodbye to me?
________
Show answers
3)
2 You needn't have walked home. You could have taken a taxi.
3 You needn't have stayed at a hotel. You could have stayed with us.
4 She needn't have phoned me in the middle of the night. She could have waited until the morning.
5 You needn't have shouted at me. You could have been more patient.
6 You needn't have left without saying anything. You could have said goodbye to me.
Exercise 4
Correct the sentences where necessary.
1) We have plenty of time. We don't need hurry. ________
2) You must keep it a secret. You mustn't tell anybody else. ________
3) I'll be all rig ht. You needn't to worry about me. ________
4) You mustn't wait for me. You go on and I'll join you later. ________
5) You don't need to keep these e mails. You can delete them. ________
6) I needn't have gone out, so I stayed at home. ________
7) I needn't have bought eggs. We had some already. ________
Show answers
4)
1 We don’t need to hurry.
2 OK
3 You needn't worry / You don't need to worry / You don't have to worry
4 You needn't wait / You don't need to wait / You don't have to wait
5 OK (You needn't keep is also correct)
6 I didn't need to go / I didn't have to go
7 OK
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