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Pedants' corner

This problem needs addressed urgently...

12 replies

openerofjars · 20/03/2013 22:15

Where is "to be"? What happened to the infinitive there?

Is it common in some varieties of English or is it a new thing? I hear it a lot in radio interviews, for some reason.

I'm trying to think of other examples, but can only come up with v similar ones and I'm poorly and it's late.

OP posts:
FloatyBeatie · 20/03/2013 22:18

I think it's quite common in North Eastern language. I've certainly noticed it a lot as a southerner living in the NE. I wouldn,'t have said it was a new trend, round here at least.

GranToAirMissiles · 20/03/2013 22:24

I think there is a general trend to shorten everything, especially in the media where space and time are limited. At the same time, I think usages like 'needs addressed' are more frequent in the north.

SweetestThing · 20/03/2013 23:21

I was brought up in Scotland and this is how we would say it. I found it very odd when I moved to England and heard people say 'It needs mending/doing/cleaning'

NormanTheForeman · 20/03/2013 23:23

Yes, it's a Scottish/Northern thing. My dh (Scottish) would say "It needs cleaned". I (Southern England) would say either "It needs cleaning" or "It needs to be cleaned".

openerofjars · 20/03/2013 23:24

Interesting, thank you!

OP posts:
trixymalixy · 20/03/2013 23:26

Agree with Sweetestthing. I'm Scottish and my DH is English. He would say"needs ironing" which sounded totally wrong to me as in Scotland we would say "needs ironed".

Moominsarehippos · 20/03/2013 23:32

Don't start me on 'bread' rolls. Why need the 'bread'? They're not made out of brick or custard are they?

notimefors · 20/03/2013 23:39

I'm from Yorkshire and I only started to hear this - from locals - when I lived in Kent & Herts!

CatWithKittens · 21/03/2013 10:12

Moominsarehippos, I think it is so that, in households where it applies, when a servant is asked to get the rolls out, he or she goes to the breadbin and not to the garage.

Moominsarehippos · 21/03/2013 15:03

Not get yer baps out?

LindyHemming · 23/03/2013 18:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

camtt · 23/03/2013 18:38

this would also be a common way to express yourself in Northern Ireland

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