Thread: example: this needs washed

Is the use of the past participle with the omision of the verb "to be" strictly a Britishism? Such as, "This glass needs washed" or "I need topped up"? Cheers.

I don't believe it is a Britishism, but we may use it more than other English-speaking countries.

You are using it incorrectly though. We normally use the continuous for such expressions though (because the past particple would suggest that the action has been carried out).

E.g:

- This glass needs washing up
- I need topping up.

Hope this helps.
Dave

I agree with what you're saying about using the gerund. But I'm an English speaker and I'm specifically referring to using the past participle instead of the gerund. This is the manner in which my Scottish girlfriend's family speaks. Do English people not do this?

elmeromero,
I have not heard this. For me it sounds like poor English, but I suppose it could be very normal in other countries.

Is there any difference if I say: "Need I go to school?" or "Do I need to go to school", and "I need do it" or "I need to do it"?

Originally Posted by elmeromero

Is the use of the past participle with the omision of the verb "to be" strictly a Britishism? Such as, "This glass needs washed" or "I need topped up"? Cheers.

That's very peculiar! I have never heard anyone speak like that in England or the US.

I have definitely heard phrases similar to the original ones posted in the Midwest, specifically Ohio. It wasn't an overwhleming number of people speaking like that, but it did definitely sitck in my mind.

Originally Posted by SandraT

Luciano, the difference is that one is grammatically correct, the other, even if you may have heard it, it's grammatically incorrect.
When you make a question you must use the auxiliar. When you use a verb, the following should be either ing or infinitive, depending on the first verb.
I need to do it...I love singing...
This takes a longer explanation, of course, you can do some on-line further surfing!!!!

Hi Sandra! If I'm not mistaken, "Need I go to school?" is indeed gramatically correct.
Need is used as a modal here. I don't know if it's commonly used or not but I definitely remember studying modals in school and "need" was one of them.

Perhaps a native of England might be able to give us more examples!

"Need I say more?" is a very common expression, though I don't know if it's technically correct. People begin sentences with "Must we...?" all the time as well...