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English grammar

Things that did not need to happen, or were meant to and didn’t

C1 · Advanced Verbs and time Questions 10

The rule

English keeps apart two kinds of unnecessary past action. needn’t have + past participle means you did something that turned out to be unnecessary: You needn’t have brought food — there was plenty (you brought it). didn’t need to + infinitive usually means it was unnecessary, so it probably was not done: I didn’t need to show my ticket (and I didn’t). Plans that failed have their own forms: was / were supposed to (an expectation or arrangement that was not met: The parcel was supposed to arrive on Monday), was meant to (similar, often informal), was to have + past participle (formal: She was to have opened the exhibition), and was going to (an intention that changed). should have criticises, was supposed to simply states the gap between plan and reality.

Pattern

needn’t have + past participle (done, but unnecessary) · didn’t need to + verb (unnecessary, probably not done) · was supposed / meant to + verb (plan not met) · was to have + past participle (formal) · was going to (intention that changed)

Examples

  1. You needn’t have booked a taxi; I could have picked you up.

  2. We didn’t need to queue because we had bought tickets online.

  3. The builders were supposed to finish last week.

  4. I was going to call you, but I fell asleep.

Common mistakes

  • Wrong: You needn’t to have worried.

    Right: You needn’t have worried.

    needn’t have + past participle, with no to.

  • Wrong: The train was supposed arrive at ten.

    Right: The train was supposed to arrive at ten.

    be supposed to + infinitive.

  • Wrong: I didn’t need to bring my passport, but I brought it anyway, so I didn’t need to have.

    Right: I needn’t have brought my passport.

    When you did it and it was unnecessary, use needn’t have.

Practice questions

Try each one yourself first, then open “Show answer” for the solution and the reason.

  1. 1Choose the correct sentence.

    What happened?

    You needn’t have cooked — we’ve already eaten.

    1. The person cooked, but it was unnecessary.
    2. The person did not cook because it was unnecessary.
    3. The person refused to cook.
    4. The person must cook now.
    Show answer

    Answer: A The person cooked, but it was unnecessary.

    needn’t have + past participle: done, but unnecessary.

  2. 2Choose the correct sentence.

    What happened?

    I didn’t need to wear a suit, so I went in jeans.

    1. He did not wear a suit.
    2. He had to wear a suit.
    3. He wore jeans under the suit.
    4. He wore a suit anyway.
    Show answer

    Answer: A He did not wear a suit.

    didn’t need to here: unnecessary, and not done.

  3. 3Choose the correct sentence.

    1. The meeting supposed to start at nine, but the chair was late.
    2. The meeting was supposed to start at nine, but the chair was late.
    3. The meeting was suppose to starting at nine, but the chair was late.
    4. The meeting was supposed start at nine, but the chair was late.
    Show answer

    Answer: B The meeting was supposed to start at nine, but the chair was late.

    was supposed to + infinitive: the plan was not met.

  4. 4Fill in the gap.

    You _____ have paid for my ticket — I had a voucher.

    1. shouldn’t to
    2. mustn’t
    3. didn’t need
    4. needn’t
    Show answer

    Answer: D You needn’t have paid for my ticket — I had a voucher.

    Done but unnecessary: needn’t have.

  5. 5Change the sentence.

    Say the effort was unnecessary.

    I rushed to the station, but the train was late anyway.

    1. I mustn’t have rushed to the station.
    2. I needn’t rush to the station yesterday.
    3. I needn’t have rushed to the station.
    4. I didn’t need rush to the station.
    Show answer

    Answer: C I needn’t have rushed to the station.

    needn’t have + past participle.

  6. 6This sentence is wrong. Choose the fix.

    The keynote speaker was to open the conference, but she fell ill and didn’t.

    1. The keynote speaker is to have open the conference, but she fell ill.
    2. The keynote speaker was to have opened the conference, but she fell ill.
    3. The keynote speaker was to opened the conference, but she fell ill.
    4. The keynote speaker had to have opening the conference, but she fell ill.
    Show answer

    Answer: B The keynote speaker was to have opened the conference, but she fell ill.

    A formal plan that did not happen: was to have + past participle.

  7. 7Choose the correct sentence.

    1. I was going to phone you, but I lost your number.
    2. I was going phone you, but I lost your number.
    3. I was going to phoned you, but I lost your number.
    4. I going to phone you, but I lost your number.
    Show answer

    Answer: A I was going to phone you, but I lost your number.

    was going to + infinitive: an intention that did not happen.

  8. 8Choose the correct sentence.

    Which sentence means the same?

    The repairs were meant to be finished by now.

    1. The repairs will never be finished.
    2. Someone meant to damage the building.
    3. The repairs should have been finished already.
    4. The repairs were finished early.
    Show answer

    Answer: C The repairs should have been finished already.

    be meant to = be supposed to.

  9. 9Put the words in the right order.

    We needn’t have worried about the weather

    Show answer

    Answer: We needn’t have worried about the weather.

    Worrying turned out to be unnecessary.

  10. 10Fill in the gap.

    He _____ supposed to be on a diet, but he ate three desserts.

    1. is
    2. does
    3. must
    4. has
    Show answer

    Answer: A He is supposed to be on a diet, but he ate three desserts.

    be supposed to also describes what someone is expected to do now.

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