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Pastimes : SI Grammar and Spelling Lab -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Jacques Chitte who wrote (1056)	4/3/1998 4:13:00 PM
From: Paul Viapiano	Respond to of 4711

I never heard of the Participle Swap...that's a good one. On another flashback from my childhood..."Throw the baby down the stairs a cookie." Paul

To: Jacques Chitte who wrote (1056)	4/3/1998 5:33:00 PM
From: jbe	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 4711

"Participle swap" is a great phrase. Yet I wonder if what we are talking about may not really be an abbreviated passive infinitive (is there such a term -- "passive infinitive"?). The guy who was saying that "your car needs washed" may have been using telegraph language for "your car needs TO BE washed." Besides, "washing" in this context is not really a participle. It is being used as a noun, as the alternative, and equally acceptable, way of phrasing the sentence -- "your car needs a washing (i.e., a bath)" -- demonstrates. Your turn! jbe

To: Jacques Chitte who wrote (1056)	4/4/1998 4:36:00 PM
From: Jack Clarke	Respond to of 4711

Hi Alex, the Participle Swap. Instead of saying "Your car needs washing", they'll say "Your car needs washed." Haven't heard that one! In the South, they have an infinitive swap, I guess I'll call it. We have the verbal expression "to be able" and the single verb "can" (as in French pouvoir). They obviously mean the same thing, but we always use an infinitive after "to be able". I am able to come over. I can come over. But when we use the "may or might" it takes only the "be able" form, (in non-Southern speech.) I might be able to come over. Southerners don't let that rule get in their way. They use "can" and "could" as infinitives: I might can come over tomorrow. Or what is likely a subjuctive form of this grammatical quirk: I might could do it, if he'd let me. Jack