Comments on: Possessive Case before a Gerund

By: Fiona Pearson

Fiona Pearson — Wed, 07 Jan 2026 13:02:09 +0000

English teaching seems to concentrate on description rather than on speaking and writing (fronted adverbials). Personal pronouns are possibly the most important; it sounds completely wrong when the possessive is not used. Sometimes an infinitve can replace a gerund, eg I saw him do it.

By: David Laven

David Laven — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 16:40:28 +0000

Very useful. I have been trying to drum this into the heads of my students (and the vast majority of my academic colleagues) for three decades. I am also fed up with editors’ correcting my correct use of the gerund. It is so simple, but you have expressed it beautifully.

By: Casey Creel

Casey Creel — Thu, 06 Mar 2025 08:53:35 +0000

In reply to Diane B Goodpasture. Tired of people or tired of people's looking at you funny?

By: Carlos Arturo Jimenez

Carlos Arturo Jimenez — Sun, 31 Mar 2024 17:50:04 +0000

A very clean explanation. You have driven away my confusion regarding the issue. Thank you very much.

By: Gary Yarbrough, M.D.

Gary Yarbrough, M.D. — Mon, 18 Mar 2024 12:39:10 +0000

I have never forgotten that the object of a gerund takes the possessive case, and I still find split infinitives offensive. It’s nice to see I’m not alone in this.

By: John Longcamp

John Longcamp — Sat, 30 Sep 2023 00:39:14 +0000

I have been waiting for months to hear a newscaster get it right. They all keep saying, ” I appreciate you coming here today.”

By: Nancy Tuten

Nancy Tuten — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 02:25:38 +0000

In reply to Diane B Goodpasture. Keep on getting it right, Diane! I'm glad you found the post helpful. Thanks for reading.

By: Diane B Goodpasture

Diane B Goodpasture — Mon, 25 Sep 2023 00:45:00 +0000

Thanks. This was very helpful. I’m just tired of people looking at me funny when I say it correctly.