my or me

Question

Here is a paragraph extracted from The Hunger Game, and I have a question to it.

"I shake my head to clear it. This is not the time to be making wild escape plans. I must focus on the Victory Tour. Too many people's fates depend on my giving a good show."

In the last sentence, why is it not "me" put after "depend on".

--Too many people's fates depend on me giving a good show.
which sounds fine to me, or both can be correct?

RandomGuy · Accepted Answer

Both are correct. My is just more formal.

Enoon · Answer

Tim Chen 8872both can be correct?

Only "my" is correct. The use of the possessive before a gerund is eroding, but if you always use it, most people won't notice except those who don't know any better, anyway. The grammar of it is that their fate does not depend on you, it depends on the giving of a good show by you.

Yoong Liat · Answer

Aspara GusBoth are correct. My is just more formal.

I agree with AG that both are correct.

RandomGuy · Answer

enoonThe grammar of it is that their fate does not depend on you, it depends on the giving of a good show by you.

Yes, but in informal style the subject of a gerund-participle clause often appears in the plain or accusative case. To say that only my is correct is pretty prescriptive.

Yoong Liat · Answer

Aspara Gus enoonThe grammar of it is that their fate does not depend on you, it depends on the giving of a good show by you.Yes, but in informal style the subject of a gerund-participle clause often appears in the plain or accusative case. To say that only my is correct is pretty prescriptive.

According to some grammar books,either 'my' or 'me' is correct in the sentence posted by the OP.

Enoon · Answer

Aspara GusTo say that only my is correct is pretty prescriptive.

I can see how you might think that, but it's egotistical, not prescriptive. And anyway, is there not a sort of negative prescriptivism that condones illiteracies on a whim? The possessive before a gerund is long established and logical. We are here to help non-native learners get the best English they can get, and to err, if error it be, on the side of propriety is a good thing. Besides, it bugs the **** out of me.

RandomGuy · Answer

enoonbut it's egotistical, not prescriptive

I’ve heard you say that before, as if it’s any better!

Yoong Liat · Answer

The following is about 'my' and 'me'.

http://www.learnenglish.de/mistakes/mevsmy.html

A real point of confusion arises when considering the use of "my" or "me" as the "subject" of a gerund.
The teacher didn't like me telling jokes in class.
The teacher didn't like my telling jokes in class.
But which is correct? Well they both are - sort of, but the use of the possessive, "my telling jokes in class " serves to isolate the telling of jokes as the object of my teacher's anger. It's hopefully not "me" at whom she/he has become upset, but the telling of jokes. In the sentence, "me telling jokes in class", it might seem as though the teacher doesn't like me personally. The rule is that the subject of a gerund is supposed to be in the possessive case.
Remember though that this is a purist's view. Both are now becoming acceptable through common usage. However, you can avoid any confusion by writing the sentence in a different way:-

CalifJim · Answer

Tim Chen 8872In the last sentence, why is it not "me" put after "depend on".

It's the author's choice. The argument over whether it should be 'me' or 'my' ('us' or 'our', etc.) has been going on for more than a century. Generally speaking, 'my' is the more accepted form in academia. Both 'me' and 'my' are used in ordinary conversations.

Some argue that, in selected sentences at least, there is a difference in meaning.

Sally doesn't like my driving. (In her opinion my driving is bad.)
Sally doesn't like me driving. (She prefers someone else to drive.)

CJ

Tim Chen 8872 · Answer

So it can be interchangeably used in the sentence
Thanks a lot

my or me

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