Grammar Girl's "needs done" survey

[Ben Zimmer]

On Wed, Sep 7, 2011 at 12:11 PM, Ben Zimmer wrote:
> On Wed, Sep 7, 2011 at 11:51 AM, Jonathan Lighter wrote:
>>
>> In his speech yesterday, the President of the United States observed that
>> much of America's infrastructure "needs rebuilt."
>>
>> A Presidential first?
>
> Not sure about that. I think he said "We’ve got roads and bridges
> across this country that need rebuildin'." The final syllable (with
> folksy dropped g) is quite reduced, so I can see how JL could have
> heard it as "rebuilt."
>
> It's at 10:50 in the video:
>
> http://www.whitehouse.gov/photos-and-video/video/2011/09/05/president-obamas-labor-day-message-weve-got-fully-restore-middle-c
>
> Official transcript says "need rebuilding":
>
> http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/09/05/remarks-president-detroit-labor-day-event

Interestingly, though, the Wall Street Journal heard it as "need to be
rebuilt." Hmmm.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111904900904576552820082030698.html

--bgz

--
Ben Zimmer
http://benzimmer.com/

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