Please translate this for me.

Question

It’s true it’s bad HER having been a governess in our house.

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

That's a rather strange sentence.

It is true that the fact that she was a governess in our house was bad. A bad idea? A bad experience? A disadvantage to her? It's hard to say.

her being a governess ~ (the fact that) she is a governess

her having been a governess ~ (the fact that) she was (had previously been) a governess

_______________

Similarly, if it's the gerundive constructions that are puzzling you,

his being an actor ~ the fact that he is an actor. His parents disapprove of his being an actor.

our being here ~ the fact that we are here. Is our being here a problem?

my being talkative ~ the fact that I am talkative. You can always count on my being talkative if I'm nervous.

their having been convicted ~ the fact that they were convicted

Their having been convicted of crimes made them virtually unemployable.

his having been a carpenter ~ the fact that he was a carpenter

His having been a carpenter was a great advantage to him when a tornado destroyed his home.

her having been a stripper ~ the fact that she was a stripper

Roberta was so generous and kind that everyone overlooked her having been a stripper.

CJ

Please translate this for me.

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