#english_language - We use **didn't need to or didn't have to** when we say that it was not [[Must and have (got) to#^53c6a3|necessary]] and it wasn't done > I didn't have/need to cook dinner (=I didn't cook dinner) - We use **need not have** when we say it was not necessary, but still, in fact, was done > I needn't have cooked dinner (=I did cook dinner)