Hi, Roberto. This form is one that I know from AAE or Ebonics in which the present 'be' verb is not used. With a few changes, though, it could be acceptable in formal registers: She--about to turn 18--is a big supporter of Barack Obama. Linda ----------------------------------------------------- Linda Di Desidero, Ph.D. Associate Professor Assistant Academic Director of Writing Communication, Arts, and Humanities University of Maryland University College 3501 University Boulevard East Adelphi, MD 20783-8083 (240) 582-2830 (240) 582-2993 (fax) ________________________________ From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Don Stewart Sent: Monday, March 10, 2008 12:28 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: "She about to turn..." The Boston Globe ran the story this morning, and it said, "After all, she's about to turn 18." On Mon, Mar 10, 2008 at 7:08 AM, Roberto Perez <[log in to unmask]> wrote: Hi all, This phrase on CNN.com caught my eye today: "After all, she about to turn 18 now and is a big supporter of Barack Obama." (Source: http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/03/10/clinton.ad.obama.ap/index.html) Is that a typo, or is the omission of the verb "to be" after "she" an acceptable form here (or one that is perhaps becoming acceptable)? I have heard, mostly in substandard speech, "she all grown up now", but to see it on CNN was odd, to say the least. Any comments? Roberto Perez [log in to unmask] To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list" Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/ -- Don Stewart Write for College ______________________ Keeper of the memory and method of Dr. Francis Christensen To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list" Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/ To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list" Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/