|
When a gerund (verb + -ing)
is combined with another verb,
the subject
of the verb is given and the subject of the gerund
is assumed to be
general (for example, anyone,
anyone from
a particular group, people in general)
or the same as the subject
of the main verb.
Examples:
He recommended arriving at
the meeting early. (The subject of arriving is anyone attending the meeting.)
Bob anticipated being at the
meeting. (Bob is
the subject of both anticipated and being.)
Admissions requirements include
passing a difficult test. (The subject of passing is anyone applying for admission.)
She enjoys singing. (She is the subject of both
enjoys and singing.)
___________________________________________________
Sometimes, however, it's necessary
to show different subjects for the main
verb and the gerund. When this happens, the subject of the gerund is a possessive form.
Examples:
He recommended our arriving at the meeting early. (The
subject of recommended is he,
but the subject of arriving
is we; we is
changed to its possessive form.)
Bob anticipated Mr. White's being at the meeting. (The
subject of anticipated is Bob,
but the subject of being is Mr. White; Mr.
White is changed
to its possessive form.)
Admissions requirements include
his passing a difficult test. (The
subject of include is admissions requirements, but the subject of passing is he; he is
changed to its possessive form.)
She enjoys your singing. (She
is the subject
of enjoys, but you is
the subject of singing;
you is changed to its possessive form.)
______________________________________________
Special Notes:
| 1. |
|
A
possessive form is used for the subject of gerunds
because the subject acts, grammatically, as a
modifier of the gerund. |
| |
|
|
| 2. |
|
In
speaking and casual writing, the subjects of gerunds
are often not made possessive, and when pronouns
are used, object pronouns are often used instead
of possessive ones: |
|