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Hi123 Posted 9 years ago
Grammar

When to use possessive gerunds?

A lot of sentences that I think should have a possessive gerund dont have,so when do I use it?

for example ,I ve seen this sentence that I thought it should have used it but didnt: ''...its better than him walking around in that suit'', to me it would be ''his'' instead.

  

Top answer

Hi I'm inclined to say, use the gerund in slightly more formal contexts: - I felt much better about the plan after my discussing it with Joseph - If you're going to insult me, there's no point in me talking to you The second, of course, is less formal, but I'd say both are acceptable Dave

— Dave_anon

  • Hi I'm inclined to say, use the gerund in slightly more formal contexts: - I felt much better about the plan after my discussing it with Joseph - If you're going to insult me, there's no point in me talking to you The second, of course, is less formal, but I'd say both are acceptable Dave
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4 Answers
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Hi

I'm inclined to say, use the gerund in slightly more formal contexts:

- I felt much better about the plan after my discussing it with Joseph

- If you're going to insult me, there's no point in me talking to you

The second, of course, is less formal, but I'd say both are acceptable

Dave

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hi123to me it would be his instead.

You are using more formal English, which as a learner you were probably taught or advised to do. That's fine. In less formal situations, however, you can use the object case (him) instead of the possessive case (his) with gerunds.

Actually, it might interest you to know that this little argume

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hi123''...its better than him walking around in that suit''

The word "him" would be common in informal situations.

hi123to me it would be his instead.

You could use that in very formal situations but, it would be unnecessary and stilted when speaking or writing informally.

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