Need + ing-form in AmE vs BrE
My grammar book says that "need" + ing-form can be used in British English with a passive meaning.

The car needs washing. = The car needs to be washed.
My shoes need mending. = My shoes need to be mended.
The bed needs making. (about the unmade bed)

Does it mean that Americans use only "need" + passive infinitive (e.g. to be washed, to be made etc) in this type of sentences?

Question

Need + ing-form in AmE vs BrE
My grammar book says that "need" + ing-form can be used in British English with a passive meaning.

The car needs washing. = The car needs to be washed. 
My shoes need mending. = My shoes need to be mended.
The bed needs making. (about the unmade bed)

Does it mean that Americans use only "need" + passive infinitive (e.g. to be washed, to be made etc) in this type of sentences?

Answer

Americans also use "needs"+ ing.

Also, there is one American dialect that used "needs" + ed.  (for example, "The car needs washed."  "My shoes need mended.") But it's not a common construction.

Answer

We also use the -ing form. Either way is okay.

Answers · 4

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