Subject of a gerund: possessive adjective or pronoun?

Question

I would like to know which one is correct.Do you mind him/Jim opening the window? or Do you mind his/Jim's opening the window?Thank you.

Tarirotari · Accepted Answer

The first sentence is correct and makes sense.

We can say 'mind somebody doing something': 'Do you mind me staying with you today?'

But compare:

'Do you mind me staying with you today?' (=You have agreed to let me stay with you, and I am asking if you mind the fact that I am staying with you)
'Do you mind if I stay with you today?' (=I am asking you whether I can stay with you today. It's a request)

So, in the case of your example, you could use:
Do you mind Jim opening the door? (=he is opening the door now, or it has been decided that he will open the door)
Do you mind if Jim opens the door? (=he hasn't opened the door yet. It's a request)

As for the second sentence you suggest, it isn't incorrect from a purely grammatical point of view, but it doesn't make much sense. You could use the possessive gerund after mind in sentences like:

I don't mind his singing in the shower.
They don't mind the baby's crying.
I don't mind his leaving the door open every morning.

However, I have the feeling that what you want to express with your sentence is a request that somebody makes in behalf of another person. If that is the case, use: Do you mind if Jim opens the door?

Subject of a gerund: possessive adjective or pronoun?

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