On Tue, 1 Feb 2005 00:08:01 +0100, Colin Youngs wrote in


:When I was at school the term used was "gerund", it's now "verb-noun" - but
:still subject to some misuse, generally people will say "Do you mind me
:sitting here?" whereas it should be "Do you mind my sitting here?"
as would be with any other noun)

I am not sure that you always use the possessive with the gerund. You
would surely say, e.g., "Do you mind me smoking ?". "Do you mind my
smoking ?" would mean something else.

My own recollection favoured the use of the possessive for such an example
of the verbal noun. However, there seems to be quite a debate on this one.
I've just found this page outlining the views.

http://www.bartleby.com/64/C001/028.html

Sorry - getting way OT now:-)

--
Mike 55.13°N 6.69°W Coleraine posted to uk.sci.weather 31/01/2005 23:27:38 UTC