Using possessives with gerunds.

What's a Gerund?

A gerund is the -ing form of a verb used as a noun. The gerund form of a verb looks
exactly like the present participle, but they function differently in a sentence. The gerund
will fill a noun slot (subject, direct object, object of preposition, etc.), but the participle will
be either an adjective or part of a verb phrase:

• Running is good exercise. (gerund = acting as a noun)

• Are those new running shoes? (present participle = acting as an adjective)
• He is running his last race today. (present participle = part of a verb phrase)
• Don't even think about buying that dress! (gerund)
• This is the new buying guide for used cars. (present participle)
• Breaking story; aching back; reading assignment. (present participle)
• I won't be buying a new car until I can save up a decent down payment. (participle)

• Crying can relieve stress. (gerund)

Here, “crying” is the subject of the sentence. You can see that it's acting like a noun
because you can replace it with something that is more obviously a noun: “dogs.” “Dogs
are clearly nouns, and you could say, “Dogs can relieve stress.” See how you can replace
“dogs” with “crying”? “Dogs can relieve stress,” and “Crying can relieve stress.” “Crying” is
a gerund; a thing that looks like a verb but is acting like a noun.

Why is a gerund supposed to be preceded by a possessive?

A noun or pronoun linked immediately with a gerund should be in the possessive case.
Because a gerund acts as a noun, that means that if a noun or a pronoun precedes it, that
noun or pronoun must be in the case that will allow it to modify another noun--i.e, the
possessive case.

• This is my book.
• This is Jane's book.
• This is his book.
• This is their book.

Since a gerund is a noun, just as "book" is a noun, the same rule applies: Use the
possessive form to modify the gerund.

Here is a simple example to help you see the difference between a present participle,
which may be preceded by the objective case of a pronoun or by the plain form of a noun,
and a gerund, which needs the possessive form to modify it:

• I saw Jim swimming. = I saw that Jim is swimming

("Swimming" is a participle describing Jim.)

• I admired Jim's swimming. = I admired his swimming

("Swimming" is a gerund, acting as the direct object of the verb admired: What did I
admire? I admired his swimming.)
RULE: Use the possessive before a gerund, but not a participle.
Bob wants you to come see his reading of his poetry.

In the first sentence, his refers to Bob’s reading. Contrast that with “Bob wants you to
come see him reading his poetry.” Here, reading is a present participle, not a gerund, and
the subject is him. Remember, in the first sentence, the subject is “his reading.” In the
second, it’s “him.”

I can’t stand to see his going on and on about his girlfriend.

Again, the subject is “his going on and on,” which, if you think about it, is the thing that
annoys the speaker. “I can’t stand to see him going on and on about his girlfriend” will
sound correct in casual speech, but is grammatically wrong.

Do you mind my asking a question?

In this sentence, the word asking is a gerund acting as a noun funtioning as the object of
“mind” It is modified by a possessive pronoun acting as an adjective. Consider: Because
some people don’t like animals, I ask a guest, “Do you mind my dog?” I wouldn’t say, “Do
you mind me dog.” Ergo, I wouldn’t say, “Do you mind me asking?”

Other examples of standard usage:

Their coming to my birthday party was a nice surprise.

I didn’t like his being rude to his teacher.
They weeded the garden without our having to tell them to.

Coming,” “being,” and “having” are all gerunds, and require preceding possessive
pronouns (“their,” “his,” and “our”). If a person’s name appears just before the gerund, that
too needs to be in the possessive form: “We’re excited about Bob’s winning the
tournament.”

Confused? Try this simple rule of thumb: if you have to put a pronoun or noun in front of
an “-ing” word, try a possessive one first. If the “-ing” word seems like a thing or an action
that could be possessed, it’s probably a gerund. If using a possessive form makes sense,
go with it.

A prepositional phrase cannot be followed by a S + V. We can change the subject to a

possessive and the verb to a gerund while keeping the meaning the same. Notice too, that
the subject of the two clauses is different. This means we must use a possessive to modify
the gerund so we know who is doing the action. If we don’t modify the gerund, we think the
subject in the main clause is doing it, which isn’t true.

Because he was so pushy, people didn’t like him.

Because of his being so pushy, people didn’t like him.

(He’s the pushy one, not the people).

Even though she loves her dog very much, the dog can’t sleep on her bed.

Despite her loving her dog very much, the dog can’t sleep on her bed.
He resents your being more popular than he is.

Most of the members paid their dues without my asking them.

They objected to the youngest girl's being given the command position.

What do you think about his buying such an expensive car?

We were all sorry about Jane's losing her parents like that.

Your swimming is really improving.

I don’t like my son’s riding a bicycle without a helmet.

I am punishing you for your eating in the computer room.

That baby’s crying is getting on my nerves.

I enjoy your singing.(singing is the object and a gerund)

I didn't like his going (not him going) to New York without me.

Their smiling (not them smiling) irritated her.

Please forgive our intruding. (not us intruding)

The ballerina’s balancing took great skill. Her balancing was lovely.

I don’t like your being late.

He enjoys her singing. Their singing inspired us.

I loved listening to his singing.

Women’s having the vote reduces men’s political power.

I couldn't take his griping anymore.

Your taking the prize was a nice surprise.

The children make their beds without my asking them to.

I so appreciated his helping out.

Her coming to us was the right thing to do.

I appreciate your understanding of the matter.

I feel bad at his missing this opportunity.

Their mocking of him was inappropriate.