Sentence Review.

Question

Hi,

I have already been given advice on this sentence from a friend. However, I just wanted to double check it. I've been bugging him a bit for explanations to certain things and don't want to keep going on.

Original:
'I didn’t want him calling the flat, running the risk of Sarah answering and ultimately finding out.'

Reviewed:
'I didn’t want him calling the flat, running the risk of Sarah's answering and ultimately finding out.'

The only difference is Sarah being Sarah's.

Which option would you use?

GPY · Accepted Answer

In precise formal English, "Sarah's" would be correct. In this everyday or conversational sentence, "Sarah" would be widely accepted, and "Sarah's" may be seen as too pedantic by some.

BarbaraPA · Answer

The explanation your looking for is that "answering" (and "finding out") are gerunds - forms of the verb that act like nouns and take the position in a sentence that a noun can take.

You use the possessive before a gerund in formal/precise English.

I appreciate your coming -- it's the act of coming that you appreciate, specifically your act.
You'll hear: I appreciate you coming.

It may be easier to see the difference in a sentence like this:
Elsie's singing is beautiful. Her singing is what is beautiful. (Elsie herself may or may not be.)
Elsie signing is beautiful. Elsie is beautiful. Some singers make weird faces or look like they are in pain. She looks lovely when she sings, in part because she so clearly loves it. (This is NOT a very natrual sentence, by the way. I use it just for illustration. You'd really say it as "Elsie is beautiful whne she sings" or something like that.)

Ryansamturner · Answer

GPYIn precise formal English, "Sarah's" would be correct. In this everyday or conversational sentence, "Sarah" would be widely accepted, and "Sarah's" may be seen as too pedantic by some.

I have another similar query.

'....and I certainly don’t appreciate your telling people about my personal affairs, especially my own pupils.'

I assume 'you' and 'your' would both be acceptable in the above sentence?

GPY · Answer

ryansamturnerI have another similar query.'....and I certainly don’t appreciate your telling people about my personal affairs, especially my own pupils.'I assume 'you' and 'your' would both be acceptable in the above sentence?

Again, "your" is formally correct, while "you" would be widely used in everyday English.

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