This car needs repair

[optimistic pessimist]

Dear all,

In the sentences below, which is the same in meaning as "This car needs to be repaired"?

1. This car needs repair.
2. This car needs repairing.
3. This car needs a repair.

Thank you!

OP

[5jj]

#2

[Barb_D]

I would say "needs to be repaired."

[SoothingDave]

I would say "needs repaired," but I'm in a bit of a dialect island on that!

All 3 of the sentences are equivalent in meaning to me.

[5jj]

I would say "needs repaired," but I'm in a bit of a dialect island on that!

A tiny island, I imagine.

All 3 of the sentences are equivalent in meaning to me.

When I made my first response, I thought that only #2 was acceptable. After reading your response, I realised that #1 is fine.
#3 still doesn't sound very natural to me.

[SoothingDave]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pittsburgh_English

See the section on "need, want, or like + past participle."