Whatever happened to 'to be'?

[LoopsInHoops]

I keep reading things like "the baby needed picked up". Loads of variations on this weird loss of the words 'to be' (but I can't think of any other actual examples right now. Why is this? Is it just laziness? American English? I'm irritated confused.

[Booyhoo]

is it regional?

i'm in NI and it would be quite normal in my part of the land to say "the baby needs picked up" dropping the 'to be'. it's not a conscious thing, it's just natural for us to speak like this.

[SPBInDisguise]

I've noticed "am" being used instead of "was" a fair amount, not sure why

[Jojobump1986]

Clearly 'to be' was 'not to be'! Sorry, couldn't resist!

[NotGeoffVader]

I've not noticed that one disappearing. I'm still twitchy about "like" as in -
"It's like I've just walked out of the salon" rather than "It's as though I've just walked out of the salon".

And don't get me started on the pinterest-speak of "Totally addicting"

[janek]

I think it could be an irish thing, dp and dmil both do it. Agree it sounds wrong, but i guess if it's a dialect it's okay...

[Booyhoo]

SPB can you give an example of 'am' instead of 'was'? i'm struggling to understand that one.

[SPBInDisguise]

The only example I can think of is from sex and the city
"I've been giving blow jobs since I'm twelve"
I've noticed it a few other times, but can't think of the specifics

[LoopsInHoops]

No, though, Euphemia, it still doesn't fit any of the grammar rules.

If it's a regional thing, fair enough. Still wrong though.

[LoopsInHoops]

"the baby needed picking up" would be fine here, a conditional past tense of sorts, but "the baby needed picked up" isn't anything.

[LoopsInHoops]

Conditional pluperfect maybe?

[Booyhoo]

ah, i've never heard that SPB. it is odd.

[nickelbabe]

i don't like "baby needed picking up" either.

everyone has started saying "needing doing"
or similar instead of to do.

it's a pandemic.

[LoopsInHoops]

Oh really? So it is a regional thing.

Votes please:

Your region:
Do you say: The baby needs to be picked up, the baby needs picking up, or the baby needs picked up?

Thanks :)

[SweetestThing]

Agree with Euphemia - this is a construction we use in Scotland (and possibly in NI too?). Something needs done, not doing. Or cleaned, not cleaning.

[LoopsInHoops]

Not 'the baby will need to be picked up at 4'?

[bigkidsdidit]

That's the normal use in scotland

[SPBInDisguise]

Loops, the first one to be correct, the second would be lazier but I would still say it, the third sounds totally wrong to me. It needs corrected. :o

[LoopsInHoops]

I agree with you SPB. Are you English?

Sorted. it's a Scottish/NI thing. Thanks all. :)