ENG_B2.

0203G

Modals: Cant Have

& Neednt Have
Talking About Uncertainty
Grammar & Structure
Level B2

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Modals: Cant Have & Neednt Have Outline

Content
Modal verbs such as needn't have, didn't need to and can't have can be used
to convey things that either happened or did not happen in the past.

Learning Outcomes
Learn how to use needn't have, didn't need to and can't have.
Compare and contrast their uses.
Practice using these modal verbs in sentences.

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Modals: Can't Have & Needn't Have

- When do you use the words needn't have?

- When do you use the words can't have?

- When do you use the words didn't need to?

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Neednt have

Please note

Needn't have is used when something was done

that was not necessary.

Example:

You needn't have bought food for dinner! There

are leftovers in the refrigerator!

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Neednt have

More examples:

You needn't have washed the dishes! There's a

dishwasher!

You needn't have worried about me! I was just

caught in traffic!

You needn't have waited for us! We were running

late!

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Neednt have

Please note
Each of those sentences has the same
form:
subject + needn't have + past participle

Example:

You needn't have bought food for dinner!

You needn't have washed the dishes!

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Neednt have

Writing

Fill in the blanks

You ________ all the way home. I could have given

you a ride! (walk)

You ________ a new jacket. You can always use my old

one! (buy)

You ________ to the barber for a haircut. I cut hair for

free! (go)

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Neednt have

Speaking
Talk about some things you or other
people needn't have done.

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Didnt need to

Please note

Didn't need to is used when something was

not done because it was unnecessary.

Example:

We didn't need to drive fast because we weren't

in any hurry.

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Didnt need to

More examples:

I didn't need to eat much because I had eaten so

much for breakfast.

She didn't need to go to work today because she

had the day off.

We didn't need to wash dishes because there is a

dishwasher.

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Didn't Need To

Please note

Each of those sentences has the same

form:
subject + didnt need + infinitive

Example:

We didn't need to drive fast.

I didn't need to eat much.

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Didnt need to

Writing

Fill in the blanks

He ______ a bike because he has a car. (buy)

I ______ to school because it was a holiday. (go)

You ______ at home because you already went to the

gym. (exercise)

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Didnt need to

Speaking
Talk about some things you or other
people didnt need to do.

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Cant have

Please note

Can't have is used to express total

disbelief about something that happened
in the past.

Example:

You can't have already gone to the store and

back! That was too fast!

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Cant have

More examples:

She can't have meant what she said!

He can't have come in through the back door, as

it was locked!

All of the evidence goes against his statement. He

can't have been telling the truth!

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Cant have

Please note

Each of those sentences has the same

form:
subject + can't have + past participle

Example:

She can't have meant what she said!

You can't have already gone to the store!

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Cant have

Writing

Fill in the blanks

Sorry if there isn't enough food! We ______ that so

many people would show up! (know)

The dog ______ through the window. It's not big

enough! (climb)

You ______ serious when you told them you never

wanted to see them again! (be)

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Cant have

Writing
Practice using expressions of disbelief! How would
you respond to the following statements?

I traveled to every country in Europe in one weekend!

I worked over 30 hours straight yesterday at the

grocery store!

I flew on a spaceship to Mars and back!

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Review (types of adverbs)

1. needn't have used for an action in the past that wasn't necessary

2. didn't need to used for an action in a past that wasn't necessary or done

3. can't have used for an event in the past that is impossible

Modal verbs such as needn't have, didn't need

to and can't have can be used to convey things
that either happened or did not happen in the past.

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Exercises

Writing
What are some similarities and differences in form and usage
between needn't have, didn't need to and can't have?

needn't have didn't need to can't have

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Exercises

Writing
Fill in the blanks using needn't have, didn't need to
and can't have.

You ______ cooked me dinner! You don't even know

how to cook!

You ______ cooked me dinner! That's so nice of you!

You ______ cook me dinner because I had already

cooked for both of us.

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Exercises

Writing
Fill in the blanks using needn't have, didn't need
to, can't have and the correct verb form.

You _______ the car because you didn't have

anywhere to go. (drive)

You _______ your bike to school! The streets are

covered with ice! (ride)

You _______ the house. It is only going to get messy

again. (clean)

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Thank you

We would like to thank

the following sources for their content
Text English Modal Verbs, Images Shutterstock ID 49252747
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Mod Shutterstock ID 65485306
al_Verbs, Retrieved at 10.3.2015, Creative
Commons license

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Thank you
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