Possessives Precede Gerunds

Possessives Precede Gerunds

by Tina Blue

September 26, 2003

What is a gerund, and how does it differ from a present participle?*

The present participle is the ing form of a verb used as an adjective: running shoes; breaking story; losing game; reading assignment.

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)

~Are those new running shoes? (participle)

~He is running his last race today. (participle)

~Don't even think about buying that dress! (gerund)

~This is the new buying guide for used cars. (participle)

~I won't be buying a new car until I can save up a decent down payment.

(participle)

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. For example, the noun "book" would not be preceded by the objective case of a pronoun or the plain form of a noun:

~This is me book.

~This is Jane book.

~This is him book.

~This is them book.

You would use the possessive forms of the nouns and pronouns to modify the noun:

~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.

("Swimming" is a participle describing Jim.)

~I admired Jim's swimming.

("Swimming" is a gerund, acting as the direct object of the verb admired: What did I admire? I admired his swimming.)

Here are some examples of gerunds that are wrongly preceded either by the objective case of a pronoun or by the plain form of a noun:

INCORRECT:

~He resents you being more popular than he is.

~Most of the members paid their dues without me asking them.

~They objected to the youngest girl being given the command position.

~What do you think about him buying such an expensive car.

~We were all grateful for Jane taking on the responsibility for the party.

Here are the correct versions, with the possessives in their proper place before the gerunds:

CORRECT:

~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.

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* For a more complete explanation of gerunds, participles and the other nonfinite verb form (infinitives), see "Nonfinite Verb Forms (Verbals)."