I didn’t have to water the flowers because it suddenly started raining

2. In questions need is used to ask for permission not to do something and it is a replacement for must when a negative answer is expected:

Need I go? - No, I don't think so.

3. The verb need is used in negative sentences to express permission not to do something:

Must I learn it by heart? - No, you needn't. Just read it.

NON-FINITE FORMS

GENERAL NOTION

The verb has finite and non-final forms. Non-finite forms are also called Verbals. The Verbals do not express person, number or mood and cannot be used as the predicate in the sentence. Finite forms are the forms of the predicate. Verbals can be used as a part of the predicate and in other syntactic functions.

There are three Verbals in the English language: the infinitive, the participle and the gerund.

The Infinitive is a non-finite form of the verb (a verbal) which developed from the verbal noun and was verbalized. It has features of both the verb and the noun. It can be used in the same syntactic functions that the noun is used - subject, predicative, object:

То learn a foreign language is not easy. (subject)

His hоbbу is to walk in the country. (predicative)

We agreed to meet tonight. (direct object)

In a sentence infinitives can be used with or without dependent words. Infinitives used with dependent words form infinitive phrases; they can also form predicative constructions; a whole phrase or a predicative construction is analyzed as a member of the sentence:

He often comes here to talk.

He promised to talk to you about it.

I want you to talk in a low voice.

The participle is а non-finite form of the verb which developed from a verbal adjective and was verbalized. Now it has verbal and adjectival or adverbial features. In English there are two participles – Participle I and Participle II. They are used as predicative, attribute, adverbial modifier and parenthesis.

In sentences they can be used with or without dependent words. Participles used with dependent words form participial phrases. Participles can also form predicative constructions.

The children walked along the path laughing.

She looks surprised.

They sat in the corner talking about something.

They received a letter written a month ago.

We watched the man approaching us.

She had her hair cut.

The Gerund is а non-finite form which has developed from а verbal noun. It is formed by adding the suffix -ing to the stem of the verb. It has double nature combining nominal and verbal properties.

In a sentence gerunds can be used as subject, object, predicative and adverbial modifier. They can be used with or without dependent words. Gerunds used with dependent words form gerundial phrases; they can also form predicative constructions:

Gardening takes a lot of her time.

She enjoys cutting grass.

I object to her working in the garden in this heat.

The Verbals have the following verbal features:

- they can take a direct object:

He likes to read books in the original.

She sat there hearing nothing.

We objected to meeting him.

- they can be modified by an adverb:

He likes to read aloud.

She sat reading quietly.

We enjoyed walking fast.

- They have tense and voice distinctions; the Infinitive has also aspect distinctions. There are several forms expressing these distinctions:

FORMS OF THE VERBALS

FORMS OF THE INFINITIVE

TENSE, ASPECT / VOICE	Active	Passive
Non-perfect	Indefinite	to do	to be done
Continuous	to be doing	-
Perfect	to have done	to hаvе bееn done
Perfect Continuous	to have been doing	-

FORMS OF PARTICIPLES

PARTICIPLE I

TENSE / VOICE	Active	Passive
Indefinite	doing	being done
Perfect	having done	having been done

PARTICIPLE II

Participle II has only one form as it has no tense or voice distinctions.

FORMS OF THE GERUND

Tense / Voice	Active	Passive
Indefinite	doing	being done
Perfect	having done	having been done

The tense distinctions of the Verbals аrе not absolute; they аrе relative.

The Indefinite (non-perfect) forms of the Verbals denote actions simultaneous with the action expressed bу the finite verb, so they may refer to the present, past and future.

I am glad to see you. – Present.

I was glad to see you. – Past

I will be glad to see you. – Future

Knowing him well we didn’t expect much.

He insists on doing everything himself.

The Perfect forms of the Verbals denote actions prior to those expressed bу the finite verbs.

He seems to have heard about it before.

Having heard it on the radio before anybody else, she hurried to share the news.