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Anonymous Posted 20 years ago
Grammar

Possessive Case

Hi guys, I'm trying to learn the possessive case of a pronoun but I'm stuck on an example from a textbook:
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Using possessive case before gerunds: Do you mind (me, my) borrowing your cell phone?
The answer in the book states: Do you mind my borrowing your cell phone?

-----------Is this correct?--------

Why is it 'my' because to me, 'me' sounds more correct?

And why is 'borrowing' a gerund? I think my brain is about to explode ugh Emotion: smile Pete

(Edited: Sorry Pete - I was trying to get your little smiley to show up correctly and I screwed up the REST of the formatting!)
  

Top answer

Hi Pete, Yes, your book is correct. I'll leave it to others (or your own research) to look up gerunds, but basically, they look like verbs but are nouns. You would use my before a noun: my book, my dream, my hamster.

— BarbaraPA

  • Hi Pete, Yes, your book is correct.
  • I'll leave it to others (or your own research) to look up gerunds, but basically, they look like verbs but are nouns.
  • You would use my before a noun: my book, my dream, my hamster.
  • So "my borrowing" is correct.
  • " Don't let your head explode
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11 Answers
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Hi Pete,

Yes, your book is correct. I'll leave it to others (or your own research) to look up gerunds, but basically, they look like verbs but are nouns.

You would use my before a noun: my book, my dream, my hamster. So "my borrowing" is correct.

In the real world (that is, outside of grammar books), many people are confused about gerunds so they use the object p
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Hi Grammar Geek

mmm having problems with this one really!

but couldn't it be:

Do you mind 'me' .... really talking about me and not about the 'borrowing'?

ED: actually the effect looks like a happy yellow turtle head which is quite nice
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A gerund is neither a verb nor a noun, but a little bit of both. A gerund resembles verbs in that it can take a subject and an object:

I insist on him/his buying a car.

Nouns don't take subjects or objects. You cannot say: I girl her, or: We discussion him.
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Grammar GeekIn the real world (that is, outside of grammar books), many people are confused about gerunds so they use the object pronoun (me, etc.) instead of the possessive, in uses such as "I appreciate you coming on such short notice" when it should be "I appreciate YOUR coming..."
Even more people don't care about "gerunds" or any other syntactic label. T
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Hi CB,

Wow, didn't expect such a long reply. Thank you.

Anyway, I understand what you are saying but I will stay clear of those sentences...
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I know this has to do with gerunds so 'my' is correct as so many people have pointed out. However, you could say "do you mind me, borrowing your cell phone." In that case, 'borrowing' would act as a participle describing "me." It is less colloquial but makes perfect sense. For example, Do you know him, (he) standing over there.
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AnonymousI know this has to do with gerunds so 'my' is correct as so many people have pointed out.
Those who think the possessive form is required will say: He insisted on English's being spoken.
CB
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CB, That's another interesting post of yours. Thanks!!!

I have one question. Would you sound pretentious to say the following in everyday conversation?
Cool BreezeCan I count on your doing it?
Do you enjoy his talking about his achievements?
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Not if you were talking to me.
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New2grammarI have one question. Would you sound pretentious to say the following in everyday conversation?
Cool BreezeCan I count on your doing it?
Do you enjoy his talking about his achievements?
Not in the least! CB

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