Lección 35 · Etapa 3: Planes, peticiones y comparaciones
Sin obligación: don't have to / needn't
IntermedioNo obligation: don't have to / needn't
Forma y uso
don't have to / don't need to / needn't + verbo — algo no es necesario
1.Forma
Para decir que algo no es necesario (puedes hacerlo, pero no hace falta), usa don't have to, don't need to o needn't + forma base.
| Forma | Ejemplo | Nota |
|---|---|---|
| don't / doesn't have to | You don't have to pay. · Thu doesn't have to work on Sundays. | la más frecuente; sirve en cualquier situación |
| don't / doesn't need to | We don't need to hurry. | mismo significado que don't have to; no olvides el to |
| needn't | You needn't wait for me. | sin to, sin -s; algo formal, sobre todo británico |
| didn't have to / didn't need to | We didn't have to queue. | pasado |
| won't have to / won't need to | We won't have to take the ferry any more. | futuro |
needn't funciona como un modal (sin -s, sin to): He needn't come. need como verbo normal lleva to y do: He doesn't need to come. No mezcles los dos (no needn't to, no doesn't need come).
2.Cuándo se usa
1. Algo es opcional: puedes hacerlo si quieres
You don't have to come with me. I can go alone.
No tienes que venir conmigo. Puedo ir solo.
It's Sunday tomorrow, so I don't have to get up early.
Mañana es domingo, así que no tengo que levantarme temprano.
2. La situación hace que alguien no tenga que hacer algo
Thu doesn't have to pay rent. She lives with her parents.
Thu no tiene que pagar alquiler. Vive con sus padres.
The test is open-book, so you don't need to learn the dates by heart.
El examen es a libro abierto, así que no hace falta aprenderse las fechas de memoria.
3. Decirle a alguien que no se moleste: cortés y amistoso
You don't have to bring anything. Just come!
No hace falta que traigas nada. ¡Solo ven!
You needn't worry. Everything is ready.
No tienes por qué preocuparte. Todo está listo.
You don't have to shout. I can hear you.
No hace falta que grites. Te oigo. (en realidad significa: deja de gritar, por favor)
4. Preguntar si algo es necesario
Do I have to bring my passport? — No, you don't.
¿Tengo que llevar el pasaporte? — No, no hace falta.
Do we need to book? — No, you don't need to. Just walk in.
¿Hay que reservar? — No, no hace falta. Pueden venir directamente.
3.¿Don't have to o mustn't?
Se parecen, pero significan cosas totalmente distintas:
| Significado | |
|---|---|
| You don't have to tell him. | No es necesario decírselo (pero puedes). |
| You mustn't tell him. | No se lo digas: no está permitido. |
You don't have to pay for the drinks. They're free.
No tienes que pagar las bebidas. Son gratis.
You mustn't park here. It's for ambulances only.
No puedes estacionarte aquí. Es solo para ambulancias.
Prueba rápida: si puedes añadir “…pero puedes si quieres”, usa don't have to (= “no tienes que”). Si quieres decir “está prohibido”, usa mustn't (= “no debes”).
4.Hablar del pasado
En pasado, usa didn't have to o didn't need to: no era necesario.
The bus was almost empty, so we didn't have to stand.
El autobús iba casi vacío, así que no tuvimos que ir de pie.
Lan didn't need to cook — her mum had made dinner.
Lan no tuvo que cocinar: su madre ya había preparado la cena.
Si algo se hizo pero resultó innecesario, el inglés británico puede usar needn't have + participio pasado. En el habla diaria mucha gente dice simplemente didn't need to.
Oh, you needn't have bought milk — I got some this morning.
Ay, no hacía falta que compraras leche: yo compré esta mañana. (la compraste, pero no era necesario)
5.Errores comunes
You mustn't pay for the drinks. They're free.You don't have to pay for the drinks. They're free.
No es necesario → don't have to; mustn't significa “prohibido”.
He don't have to work on Saturdays.He doesn't have to work on Saturdays.
he/she/it → doesn't.
She doesn't has to cook tonight.She doesn't have to cook tonight.
Después de doesn't, usa have, no has.
You needn't to call me first.You needn't call me first.
Sin to después de needn't.
You don't need bring anything.You don't need to bring anything.
don't need necesita to.
We haven't to wait.We don't have to wait.
La negativa de have to se forma con don't.
Ejemplos
- It's Sunday tomorrow, so I don't have to get up early.
- Thu doesn't have to worry about rent. She lives with her parents.
- We don't need to hurry. The film starts at nine.
- You don't have to take your shoes off. Come in!
