"needs signed"

[Anonymous]

My pet peeve is the above. "This paper needs signed." Instead of "This paper needs TO BE signed." I would like to know the proper technical term for this. That way when I bring it to someone's attention, I can do it right. Unfortunately, I don't know enough grammar to name it. I think it is the improper use of the past participle -- without the something. Can you help? - Paolo

[Rusty]

My pet peeve is the above. "This paper needs signed." Instead of "This paper needs TO BE signed." I would like to know the proper technical term for this. That way when I bring it to someone's attention, I can do it right. Unfortunately, I don't know enough grammar to name it. I think it is the improper use of the past participle -- without the something. Can you help? - Paolo
(I have heard this too, and it doesn't ring right to my ear either. However, I believe it is colloquial/dialectical and not necessarily incorrect. "To be" is omitted, but understood. The sentence would have the correct passive construction with "to be" included. Another option is to use the gerund, "signing" instead of the past participle "signed." "The paper needs signing" is also correct).

[Pete]

I'd say that "needs" is being used in a way that needs a complement: either a direct object or an infinitive phrase that acts like a noun. When you say, "it needs signed", you are following "needs" with a participle used as an adjective. That would work if "needs" were a linking verb, but it isn't used that way.

("It needs signing", as Rusty noted, is correct; the gerund "signing" is used as a noun, so it is a direct object.}