plate needs washing or washed?

[teifiboy]

I have an on going discussion with my Scottish friends. They would say for example...

THE BABY NEEDS FED.

I argue that this is incorrect by saying

THE BABY NEEDS FEEDING or THE BABY NEEDS TO BE FED.

Other examples include

MY HAIR NEEDS CUT, THE FLOOR NEEDS CLEANED etc

can i have a ruling on this as I seem to be in a minority

[Casiopea]

There's no need to argue. It's not the Standard, but it is a known dialect variation.

The words 'fed, cut, cleaned', for example, are part of absolute nominal phrases; "to be" has been omitted:

The baby needs (to be) fed.
My hair needs (to be) cut.
The floor needs (to be) cleaned.

[queenbu]

I totally agree with you!!!But as for giving you rules,I'll leave that to someone more qualified.

[Tdol]

Needs to be fed- OK everywhere
Needs feeding- British English
Needs fed- regional English (it is also used in some parts of the USA)