Grammar- Is this a regional thing?

cnstarz · October 2011

I've noticed in several places online lately that some people leave out "to be" when they write. (Like "I have some shirts that need folded" or "These papers need graded.") Is this a regional dialect thing or is it just a way to save time when typing? I'd never seen that construction before.

Edge08 · October 2011

That would drive me up a wall if that's a regional thing (assuming I had to read it often).

Beth&Derek · October 2011

Hm. I don't think I've ever seen/heard that before.

TaylorNShannon · October 2011

Of course I'm sorta in your region, but I have heard it said that way. I've not paid enough attention to see if people type it too. I have noticed, though, that it's generally the older generations that use that construction.

naylon511 · October 2011

I've heard "I have shirts that need folding" but not "I have shirt that need folded". That doesn't make any sense.

Loveofjoe11 · October 2011

Myself and most of my friends always leave out the "to be." I don't see any of my family or friends saying, "I have shirts that need to be folded," we often say "I have shirts that need folded."

UTRachel84 · October 2011

I hear that a lot, must be ok in Ohio

TeacherTiff · October 2011

UTRachel84:
I hear that a lot, must be ok in Ohio

Yes

jo&sam · October 2011

I grew up in the midwest and would say/type both of the examples you gave. I would actually never think to add the "to be" in there, so I obviously had no idea that this could be bad grammar.