3

I often use the pattern 'I appreciate your noticing this' but recently decided it sounds strange, and switched to 'you'. (I do this with different verbs; this is just an example.) Are they both valid?

Improve this question
5
  • 2
    Either one is OK. The subject of a gerund complement clause may appear either in possessive form (your, his, Mr. Smith's -- this is called a POSS_-ing_ gerund complement), or in an objective (originally accusative) form (you, him, Mr. Smith -- this is called an ACC_-ing_ gerund complement). There is no grammatical difference.
    – John Lawler
    Commented Apr 30, 2014 at 18:37
  • Traditionally, your is preferred by style books (i.e. the possessive of any personal pronoun). With regular nouns, it's more complicated.
    – Cerberus - Reinstate Monica
    Commented Apr 30, 2014 at 18:42
  • 1
    There can be a semantic difference. The audience didn't appreciate your singing those bawdy songs / The throat specialist didn't want you singing.
    – Edwin Ashworth
    Commented Apr 30, 2014 at 18:45
  • See the excellent answer on the linked question.
    – RegDwigнt
    Commented Apr 30, 2014 at 19:02
  • Thanks, guys, very helpful comments and now I know how to describe the general version of this. To the person that downvoted the question, without comment, 30 seconds after posting: please forgive me if my expression of gratitude is less effusive.
    – jimmy_joyce
    Commented Apr 30, 2014 at 19:59

0

Reset to default

Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.