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Marylou5 Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

his being versus him being

What is correct in this sentence:

We are always happy with his (or him) being on time.

I know the HIS is correct but what is the rule???
  

Top answer

marylou5 What is correct in this sentence: We are always happy with his (or him) being on time. His conforms to traditional grammar, but him is also acceptable (and more common) these days. marylou5 I know the HIS is correct but what is the rule???

— RandomGuy

  • marylou5 What is correct in this sentence: We are always happy with his (or him) being on time.
  • His conforms to traditional grammar, but him is also acceptable (and more common) these days.
  • marylou5 I know the HIS is correct but what is the rule???
  • The rule is that a noun or pronoun that begins a gerund clause ( his being on time ) should be in the possessive case.
  • It is a shame that this rule is fading from the language; it makes perfect sense.
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10 Answers
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marylou5What is correct in this sentence:
We are always happy with his (or him) being on time.
His conforms to traditional grammar, but him is also acceptable (and more common) these days.
marylou5I know the HIS is correct but what is the rule???
The rule is that a noun or pronoun that begins a gerund claus
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Aspara GusThe rule is that a noun or pronoun that begins a gerund clause (his being on time) should be in the possessive case.
Except when you can't, which occasionally happens!

The most usual counterexample is with there.

It's I don't object to there being more than one -- not I don't object to there's being more than one
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CalifJimExcept when you can't, which occasionally happens!
CJ, you rascal! Personal pronouns, of course.
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Emotion: smile

And nouns that represent people, of course.

What about other nouns though? I don't know if there's a rule for th
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CalifJimWhat about other nouns though? I don't know if there's a rule for those. Have you run across anything that mentions that case?
I haven't. Your examples don't sound terribly wrong, though. I have no idea.
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Here’s the British English position:

Current Practice [...]

(i ) The possessive with gerund is frequently used when the word before the –ing form is a proper name or personal noun. [...]
(ii) When the noun is non-personal, is
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It's funny though. I don't think anybody would say

I don't see its making any difference.

Is this possible?
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IvanhrI don't think anybody would sayI don't see its making any difference.
I wouldn't, but I'm not so sure that nobody would. It doesn't seem wrong - just 'hypercorrect'.

CJ
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Asked about a dog:


"Has he done anything yet to warrant his being thrown into the dog pound"?

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marylou5 What is correct in this sentence:
We are always happy with his (or him) being on time.
I know the HIS is correct but what is the rule???

Using the word "his" would be extremely formal. Excessively formal and not typical in general, informal situations where "him" would be more common.

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