needn't have done/didn't need ¹

这两个结构所表达的意义是完全不同的。请考察下列两对句子：

1. [A] They didn't need to come here. 他们不必来这儿。

2. $\$left\{(\mathrm{B})\right. They needn't have come here. 他们本来不必来这儿的。

3. [A] I didn't need to take my overcoat. 我不必去取我的外套。

4. $\$left\{(\mathrm{B})\right. I needn't have taken my overcoat. 我本来不必去取我的外套的。

句(A)表达在当时没有必要做某事,因而,实际上也没有做某事。而句(B)表示过去做过的事现在看来是没有必要的,即做了实际上不必做的事。They needn't have come here. = 他们本不必来这里的。此句含有“他们实际上已来到这里。”的意思。因此,你提问的第一个句子 You needn't have said that. = 你本用不着说这样的话。此句含有“你已经说了这样的话。”的意思。同样,你提问的第二个句子 who...need not have felt disappointed = 其实他们本不应该感到失望的。此句含有“他们实际上确实曾经感到很失望。”的意思。根据上述可以看出,在上面的两个句子里都不能用 didn't need 来代替 needn't have done。请进一步分析这两种结构在下列各句中的区别:

1. They did not need to arrive so early. (Dreiser) 他们不必很早到达。

2. I didn't need to show my passport. 我不必拿出我的护照。

3. She was too nervous to reply, but fortunately she did not need to say anything. 她紧张得无法答话，但是，幸运的是她什么也不需要说。

4. You needn't have mentioned it, mother. 妈妈，你本不必提这件事的。

5. You need not have gone there yesterday. 你昨天本不必去那里的。

6. You needn't have told them that. 你本不必把这件事告诉他们。

7. They need not have been punished so severely. 他们本不该受到这么严厉的处罚。请做下面的英语考题：

8. You ____ such a long essay, the teacher only asked for 300 words, and you have written 600. A. mustn't have written B. needn't have written

C. didn't have to write D. didn't need to write

2. I ____ to him because he phoned me shortly afterwards. A. need have written B. needn't have written C. must have written D. may have written

3. He told me I ____ (not need decide) it at once, I could let him know the following day.

4. There was plenty of time. She ____. A. mustn't have hurried B. couldn't have hurried C. must not hurry D. needn't have hurried(全国高考)

5. You ____ all those calculations! We have a computer to do that sort of thing. A. needn't have done B. must not have done C. shouldn't have done D. can not have done(全国四级,91.6-53)

6. The meeting's been cancelled. Ann ____ all that work. A. need to do B. need have C. needn't have done D. needed not to do(全国英语专业四级,95-55)