Correct grammar?

Question

Is "I will appreciate your letting me know if you wish to proceed" or "I will appreciate you letting me know if you wish to proceed"?

BarbaraPA · Accepted Answer

The answer to your specific question is "your."

However, this is a very formal construction. Could you not simply say "Please let me know if you wish to proceed."?

Tiny · Answer

Personally, I use the simpler form, but I've often seen the sentence about which I asked, so I wanted to know which was correct. Thanks!

Pinenut · Answer

TinyPersonally, I use the simpler form, but I've often seen the sentence about which I asked, so I wanted to know which was correct. Thanks!

You may have seen similar sentences, but it does not mean they are commonly used.

I would appreciate it if you could let me know if you wish to proceed. This is how the verb, appreciate, is used in this context.

Davkett · Answer

I believe each is correct.

The first example is an appreciation of the act; the second is an appreciation of the person.

I believe the difference is referred to grammatically as a gerund vs. a verbal participle.

Siggy · Answer

I would suggest that (a) the first sentence is better with the word "your" being correct and (b) changing the "will" to "would" inproves things. My guess is that the sentence as a whole is intended as a request and is conditional on a response. If something is conditional, the "would/should/could" verbs are better.

"Letting" is, indeed, the elusive gerund or "verbal noun." I'm the sort of guy who prefers to call those sort of things "-ing participles" and not worry too much about it. On the other hand, that's maybe sad because the gerund sounds like a small, cute, furry creature that is in danger of becoming extinct.

Maybe someone has already created a "Save the Gerund" t-shirt!

Siggy

Marius Hancu · Answer

SiggyI would suggest that (a) the first sentence is better with the word "your" being correct and (b) changing the "will" to "would" inproves things. My guess is that the sentence as a whole is intended as a request and is conditional on a response. If something is conditional, the "would/should/could" verbs are better.

I agree with "would."
In terms of gerund, Curme was still using the term.

Anonymous · Answer

I will appreciate your letting me know if you wish to proceed is the correct form.

Davkett · Answer

AnonymousI will appreciate your letting me know if you wish to proceed is the correct form.

As I posted earlier, both forms can be correct, but have different emphases. It is not out of the question to appreciate someone ('you'), just as it is not out of the question to appreciate the deed ('letting me know').

Anonymous · Answer

Please let me know how you wish to proceed.

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