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/