Re: USAGE: pronouncing "l", "needs washed"

Ed Heil wrote:

> But the thing I don't get is that a few years ago, I first heard the
> construction, "that shirt needs washed" from my wife.  (I would say,
> "that shirt needs to be washed," or "that shirt needs washing."  To
> me, "washed" is not a nominal, and therefore cannot be used as the
> direct object of "needs," whereas "to be washed" and "washing" are
> both nominals.)
This is characteristic of Western Pennsylvania, and may have spread, perhaps
under Mennonite influence, to the Midwest.


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