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Pructus Posted 22 years ago
Grammar

Him doing and His doing

Would appreciate if some one should help me with my question….




I’d like to know among the two corresponding sentences, which is correct and which is not.

Or, both are correct.




I am getting impatient with “your” keeping secrets from me.

I am getting impatient with “you” keeping secrets from me.




I insisted on “his” going.

I insisted on “him” going.




She suggested “them” forming a study group.

She suggested “their” forming a study group.




I like his coming to my house.

I like him coming to my house.




I saw him smiling.

I saw his smiling.

  

Top answer

The choice between the possessive and the direct object forms is difficult in the context you present. It appears to be dependent on the preceding verb or adjective. Sometimes native speakers use a form different from the one recommended in grammar books.

— CalifJim

  • The choice between the possessive and the direct object forms is difficult in the context you present.
  • It appears to be dependent on the preceding verb or adjective.
  • Sometimes native speakers use a form different from the one recommended in grammar books.
  • In most cases the possessive is regarded as better, but the object form is widely used anyway.
  • Here are my preferences as a native speaker of American English.
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18 Answers
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The choice between the possessive and the direct object forms is difficult in the context you present. It appears to be dependent on the preceding verb or adjective. Sometimes native speakers use a form different from the one recommended in grammar books. In most cases the possessive is regarded as better, but the object form is widely used anyway.

Here are my preferences as a native
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I wanted but could not expect reply.


Thanks very much, CalifJim.




pructus
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0How about the acceptability of the following sentences? 02br
02br
001. Mother hates us playing indoors.02br
02br
002. Mother hates our playing indoors.02br
02br
003. It is no use of you trying to cheat me.02br
02br
004. It is no use of your trying to cheat me.02br
02br
005. There is little chance
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0 01blockquote
01cite10Teo12cite10How about the acceptability of the following sentences? 12br
12br
101. Mother hates us playing indoors.12br
12br
102. Mother hates our playing indoors.12br
12br
103. It is no use of you trying to cheat me.12br
12br
104. It is no use of your
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0Hi Jim,02br
02br
00Re the possessive with the present participle, I agree that "I saw his smiling," sounds a little strange, but "I like his coming," doesn't bother me. Can you say anything to help categorize these models, helping explain why you reject them and accept "I insisted on his going"?02br
02br
00Thanks, - A.02br
02br
00Ed
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0 01blockquote
01cite10CalifJim12cite10I like his coming to my house. NO 12br
10I like him coming to my house. OK. 12br
10I like that he comes to my house. OK. 12br
12br
10I saw him smiling. OK 12br
10I saw his smiling. NO. 12br
12blockquote
10Hi Jim0
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1blockquote
01cite10Cool Breeze12cite10More about the subject of the gerund 15010 12blockquote
10Hi CB, 02br
02br
00Where? 02br
02br
00To show you how dumb01b01i00 I02i02b00 am, I thought 01b01i00all02i02b00 the "-i
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0 01blockquote
01cite10Avangi12cite11blockquote
11cite20Cool Breeze22cite20More about the subject of the gerund 25120 22blockquote
20Hi CB, 12br
10Where? 12br
10To show you how dumb11b11i10 I12i12b10 am, I thought 11b
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0 01blockquote
01cite10Cool Breeze12cite11i10I like 11b10it12b10 that he comes to my house12i10 would be correct.12blockquote
10Oops! I left out the 01b00it02b00. Where were you four years ago when I wrote that? 05002br
00CJ 010id1
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0 01blockquote
01cite10Avangi12cite10I thought 11b11i10all12i12b10 the "-ing" words in this thread were 11b11i10both12i12b10 gerunds and present participles.12blockquote
10 Isolated 01i00-ing02i00 words on their own can be used as eith
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