"You don't need" vs. "You needn't"

Warnow   Mon May 19, 2008 9:38 pm GMT
Hello!

Are there any of you who prefer "you needn't" to "you don't need" in your daily speech?
Where do you come from then?

Thanks!
Skippy   Mon May 19, 2008 9:42 pm GMT
"You needn't" is seldom, if ever heard in America. I would go with "you don't need." This construction is more common with non-helping verbs anyway.
Guest   Tue May 20, 2008 2:34 am GMT
No one anywhere really says "You needn't". Just remove it from your active vocabulary.
guest2   Tue May 20, 2008 3:28 am GMT
Is "You needn't" still used in the UK? It strikes me as more of a British usage, but I don't know whether it's still current.

And how about in Australia/New Zealand?
Humble   Tue May 20, 2008 5:36 am GMT
<Just remove it from your active vocabulary. >
Really??
Even in such contexts?
- Shall I put those bags in the trunk?
- No, you needn't, thank you.

<This construction is more common with non-helping verbs anyway>
What are non-helping verbs? What construction, Skippy?
Levee   Tue May 20, 2008 6:49 am GMT
"No one anywhere really says "You needn't". Just remove it from your active vocabulary."

I see. And have you taken your pills today?
Russconha   Tue May 20, 2008 6:50 am GMT
You needn't discard this phrase, it's still active in the UK, although not so common nowadays.
Guest   Tue May 20, 2008 7:11 am GMT
You should know about this construction passively, though you needn't stress about using it right.
Guest   Tue May 20, 2008 7:26 am GMT
Humble: In American English at least...

- Shall I put those bags in the trunk?
- No, you don't need to, thank you.
Warnow   Tue May 20, 2008 12:01 pm GMT
Alright.

Thank you everybody!
Guest   Tue May 20, 2008 1:04 pm GMT
- Humble: In American English at least...

- Shall I put those bags in the trunk?
- No, you don't need to, thank you. -


In American English, that SHALL is optional (or obsolete for many youngsters) too
Warnow   Tue May 20, 2008 1:50 pm GMT
If the SHALL is optional, what would you say then? I mean without SHALL.
Guest   Tue May 20, 2008 5:28 pm GMT
Should or going to is normally used, not shall.
Rick   Tue May 20, 2008 8:13 pm GMT
"I don't need a pen"

or

"I needn't a pen"

Is it used in this context? I don't know, but I don't use "needn't".

<<Should or going to is normally used, not shall.>>

"going to" isn't used.

"Should I put those bags in the trunk?"

*"Going to I put those bags in the trunk?"
Guest   Tue May 20, 2008 9:06 pm GMT
I never use SHALL.