Expression: What about us having dinner tonight?

Question

Please help me explain this expression: What about us having dinner tonight?

I said that it is native speaker expression, but my student insisted that this is not acceptable.

Thanks for your help.

Anna Sudarmo

Cool Breeze · Accepted Answer

I see nothing wrong with the sentence.

CB

Anonymous · Answer

I HAVE CAREFULLY CONSIDERED MY ANSWER BEFORE SUBMITTING FOR MODERATION

Ms. Sudarmo,

One of my favorite books gives this example:

I do not approve that man coming (participle) with Mary.

= disapproval of the man.

I do not approve that man's coming (gerund) with Mary.

= It is the coming of the man with Mary which is not approved.

*****

Maybe (I repeat: maybe) we might interpret your sentence as:

What about us having (participle) dinner tonight? =

The emphasis is on us. The fact that you and I would consider

the possibility of dining together. After all, you are young, beautiful,

and smart. I am old, poor, and stupid.

What about our having (gerund) dinner tonight?

=

The emphasis is on having dinner tonight -- instead of,

for example, staying in our respective homes and just

communicating by phone.

I think, however, that in the "real world," native speakers

would accept either answer and interpret it as "Let's

have dinner together tonight."

(This post has been proofread several times.)

Philip · Answer

I agree with the explanation of the next anonymous post.

I normally use the possessive in this case, but I would resist if I thought my audience might consider me stuffy.

Dimsumexpress · Answer

AnonymousWhat about our having (gerund) dinner tonight?
=
The emphasis is on having dinner tonight -- instead of,
for example, staying in our respective homes and just
communicating by phone.
I think, however, that in the "real world," native speakers
would accept either answer and interpret it as "Let's
have dinner together tonight."
(This post has been proofread several times.)

Hi Anon,
I kind of followed your line of logic but have problem agreeing with the use of the pronouns, particularly in the construction with gerunds.

More naturally, I'd ask someone: " How about ( having) dinner tonight..". This is pressumed that the dinner is just for two. We can skip the pronouns (us) all together. But if "us" must be used, then, "How about having dinner tonigh, just the two us."
Possessive gerunds (my working, your shouting etc..), although looked grammatically reasonable , (as the one in red) , they may be awkwardly constructed into a sentence.

Expression: What about us having dinner tonight?

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