Gerund vs Present Particle

Question

I am having a trouble understanding the difference in meaning of the following two sentences:

1. Do you mind me asking a question?
2. Do you mind my asking a question?

How should "my asking a question" be interpreted? Does "my" restrict the action of "asking a question" to be conducted only by "me"?

Thanks for your help.

Dimsumexpress · Accepted Answer

Welcome!

Candy Chiu1. Do you mind me asking a question?
2. Do you mind my asking a question?
Both are patterns people would unlikely use in everyday conversatoin.

Typically we say " do you mind if I ask you a question? ".

# 2 is fine for formal contexts.

AlpheccaStars · Answer

Hi Candy;
Welcome to the Forums.

There is no difference in meaning between the two sentences.

Traditionally, the possessive case (my) was always used before a gerund, but it's something that has been changing. So now you oten see the object case

used when the gerund itself is in object case.

When the gerund is in the subject case, the pronoun is always in the possessive case:

Does my asking questions bother you?

Gerund vs Present Particle

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