Use of Possessive Pronoun with Gerund-

Question

Hi Experts,

Request you to please provide your reasoning on the below two sentences.

I know that the Rule is to use possessive pronoun with Gerunds, however I am confused how do you get to know if the noun phrase is being used as Gerund or Participle.

1) I appreciate you taking the time to read my novel
2) I appreciate your taking the time to read my novel

I know that sentence 2 is grammatically correct but the confusion is how do I make sure if I need to use possessive or not, and I would like to know the difference in the meanings between sentence 1 and 2 as well.

Please clarify.

Thanks
H

aditya8062 · Answer

I appreciate you taking the time to read my novel

this is wrong because the  focus  of the construction is the  action ---  your taking the time to read my novel --

but yes u can say :I appreciate you   for  taking the time to read my novel

this is not always true

Vercules · Answer

Hi Himanshu,

In the first sentence "taking..." is modifying "you", i.e. it is acting as a participle; whereas; in the second sentence "taking..." is acting as a gerund phrase or simply a noun phrase. Grammatically both may be correct, but logically sentence 2 makes more sense.

1) I appreciate you taking the time to read my novel    --> "you" is being appreciated 
  2) I appreciate your taking the time to read my novel    --> "taking the time" is being appreciated

To check whether a phrase is a noun phrase, replace it with a simple noun.

e.g. I appreciate your  book . or I appreciate your  advise . or I appreciate your  consideration .

Consider the following examples where both the usages are correct.

I appreciate Tom Cruise doing a great job as an actor. -->   "doing" is modifying "Tom Cruise", hence it is acting as a participle. Moreover appreciation is for Tom Cruise

I appreciate Tom Cruise's acting. -->  "acting" is a gerund or a noun. The appreciation is for "acting".

Hope this helps,

Vercules

imhimanshu · Answer

Hi Vercules, 
So, it all goes down to Logical Meaning i.e the Intent of the Main Sentence.Correct.

Thanks
Himanshu

imhimanshu · Answer

Can you please provide explanation to it.

Thanks
H

aditya8062 · Answer

i saw  him  walking down the lane !!

look at the intent of the sentence :u actually saw  him walking  and not  "his walking"

VerbalBot · Answer

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Use of Possessive Pronoun with Gerund-

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