Verbs with Objects Followed by Gerunds: Expressing Attitudes About Activities

Gerund Clauses with Subjects

Expressing attitudes about the activities of others

Including a Subject with a Gerund Clause

THAT-CLAUSE	[OBJECT PRONOUN + FOR] + GERUND CLAUSE	POSSESSIVE DETERMINER + GERUND CLAUSE
A that-clause can be reduced to a gerund clause. This particular wording places equal emphasis on the subject and the activity of the clause.	After certain verbs, an object pronoun and a preposition such as for, with, of, about is complemented (followed) by a gerund clause. This particular wording places emphasis on the "agent" of the activity in the gerund clause. This use is less formal than the possessive determiner.	Two elements [you + for helping me] can become one: [your helping me]. A pronoun and a preposition is restated with a possessive pronoun. This particular wording places more emphasis on the activity of the gerund clause.
I appreciate that he helped me. [helping me]	I appreciate him for helping me.	I appreciate his helping me.
He resented that she was successful. [being successful]	He resented her for being successful.	He resented her being successful.
Would you mind if I smoke here? [smoking]	Would you mind me smoking here? (no prep)	Would you mind my smoking here?

Also see Gerund Clauses

Object Pronoun vs. Possessive Determiner

OBJECT PRONOUN + PREPOSITION	POSSESSIVE DETERMINER
George fixed my front door. I appreciate his work. I thanked him for fixing my door.	*I thanked his fixing my door. (not used) I appreciate his fixing my door.(better to restate it)
I'd like to smoke a cigarette here. Do you mind me smoking here.? (* informal - me)	Do you mind my smoking here?
Golfers are hitting their golf balls down my hole. I resent them for hitting golf balls down my hole.	I resent their hitting golf balls down my hole.
I had to finish a report, so I was late last night. They forgave me for being late last night.	They forgave my being late last night. (or my lateness)
I missed the target! Pardon me for missing the target.	Pardon my missing the target.!

Verbs Followed by a Particular Pattern.

A. PRONOUN + PREPOSITION				B. POSSESSIVE PRONOUN
These verbs are followed by a object pronoun + preposition + gerund clause. "The preposition has no identifiable meaning independent of the grammatical construction in which it occurs." That is, you could not say *"I excuse you — about, on, with." Only "I excuse you for…" (CaGEL 601)				These verbs are followed by a personal pronoun or possessive determiner and a gerund clause. Two elements "[you + for] missing the meeting" can become one "your missing the meeting". (CaGEL 320) See gerund clause diagram. Items marked with * are informal or marginally used.
They	VERB excused pardon forgive	OBJECT PRN you	PREP. + GERUND CLAUSE for missing the meeting. ⇒	They	VERB excused pardon forgive resent	PRN / POSS. DET you / your you / your your your	GERUND CLAUSE missing the meeting.
They	prevented prohibited stopped hindered stopped	him	from leaving early. ⇒	They	prevented prohibited stopped hindered stopped	him / his	leaving early.
—				They	appreciated resent regrets	*him/his	being so helpful. speaking out rudely. leaving the company.
They	thanked apologized to blamed	him	for leaving.	—	(no equivalent possessive form)
They	accused suspect	them	of cheating.	—
They	warned complained to	Mary/her	about being late.	—
They	congratulated	John/him	on completing his exams.	—

†When a clause has one object, that object is always a direct object, even when its meaning is that of an indirect object (receiver or beneficiary of the action) . That is, an indirect object is found only in combination with a direct object.
* acceptable for some speakers

Contrast — Other Types of Verbs

OBJECT PRONOUN (ACCUSATIVE)		POSSESIVE PRONOUN (GENITIVE)
In these object pronoun clauses the gerund clause is verb-like. (Note that only an adverb modifier sounds acceptable.) Items marked with * are marginally acceptable for some speakers.		In these possessive clause examples, the gerund clause is more noun-like.
Charlie resents	you constantly questioning his motives. (adverb)	Charlie resents	your constant questioning of his motives. (adjective + noun-like clause) your constantly questioning his motives. (adverb + verb-like clause)
*Charlie enjoyed	you constantly questioning his motives. (enjoy, prefer, like, etc.)	Charlie enjoyed	your constant questioning of his motives. your constantly questioning his motives.
We found	you constantly questioning his motives. (catch, see, find, hear, etc.)	*We found	your constantly questioning Charlie's motives. your constantly questioning Charlie's motives.
Charlie remembered	you constantly questioning his motives. (remember, forget, recall, etc.)	Charlie remembered	your constant questioning his motives. your constantly questioning his motives.

motive (n.) – the reason that makes someone do something, especially when this reason is kept hidden
*Yellow highlighted words are examples of incorrect usage.

Grammar Notes

Traditional Grammar vs. Linguistic Description

Advanced

TRADITIONAL GRAMMAR	LINGUISTIC DESCRIPTION
In traditional grammar, you is the object of the verb thank. The gerund (verbal noun) is the object of the preposition for.	In example (A) the pronoun you is the object of the verb thank. The preposition for, a grammaticized preposition, is closely associated with the verb. The verb requires this particular preposition. The gerund clause complements the preposition. (A preposition can be complemented by a wide variety of structures not limited to a noun.) (CaGEL 1189-93)
A. PRONOUN + PREPOSITION Click the diagram to enlarge it.	A. PRONOUN + PREPOSITION
In traditional grammar, the gerund (a verbal noun) functions as the object of the clause. The possessive is a determiner for the verbal noun. Using the object pronoun was informal usage.	In example (B) the pronoun you or the possessive determiner your is the subject of the nonfinite gerund-participle clause.
B. POSSESSIVE PRONOUN	B. PRONOUN / POSSESSIVE PRONOUN

Clause; Subject / Predicate; Finite / Nonfinite; NP –noun phrase; N – noun; VP – verb phrase; V – verb; Comp – complement; Det – determiner; PP – prepositional phrase; P – preposition; Sub – Subordinator
Also see structure of Buy v. Thank "He bought a gift for me." "He thanked me for the gift."

Practice 1

Expressing Opinion About Situations

Select pronouns to complete the sentence.

Select the word from each menu that best completes the sentence.
Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check" button to the right.

#	YOUR RESPONSE	ANSWER CHECK
eg	The hotel turned off our heat. (the hotel staff) We complained to turning off the heat.
1.	You ran into the back of my car. I blame causing the accident.
2.	Jack forgot to pick me up Saturday morning. I forgave forgetting to pick me up.
3.	I didn't come to the board meeting because I was ill. My boss excused being absent.
4.	The neighbors had a noisy party last night. I warned making so much noise. (use "about")
5.	I forgot Kathleen's birthday. I apologized to forgetting her birthday.
6.	George always lies about what he has done. I resent telling lies about himself.
7.	We accidentally took the wrong bag at the airport. They accused taking their baggage.
8.	He stepped on her foot while getting in line. She pardoned stepping on her foot.
9.	The teacher made the students put way their cell phones before the test. She prevented cheating on their test.
10.	The teacher noticed that everyone had a perfect score of a very difficult test. She suspected stealing a copy of the test.

Practice 2

Thank You Letter

Select the word from each menu that best completes the sentence.

YOUR RESPONSE	CHECK ANSWER
Dear Carla and Bob, Thank donating to Glow Foundation. Your generous gift will benefit our students from under-resourced communities to succeed in college and beyond. We appreciate giving Glow Scholars an opportunity to achieve their educational goals. Next month, we have another fundraising event in which we will honor this year's graduates. We will be congratulating completing their final year with the Glow Program. We look forward to working with us in the future. We hope that we can count on continuing support of the Glow Foundation. Sincerely, Jane Reed Executive Director	Dear Carla and Bob, Thank donating to Glow Foundation. Your generous gift will benefit our students from under-resourced communities to succeed in college and beyond. We appreciate giving Glow Scholars an opportunity to achieve their educational goals. Next month, we have another fundraising event in which we will honor this year's graduates. We will be congratulating completing their final year with the Glow Program. We look forward to working with us in the future. We hope that we can count on continuing support of the Glow Foundation. Sincerely, Jane Reed Executive Director

YOUR RESPONSE

CHECK ANSWER

Dear Carla and Bob,

Thank donating to Glow Foundation. Your generous gift will benefit our students from under-resourced communities to succeed in college and beyond.

We appreciate giving Glow Scholars an opportunity to achieve their educational goals.

Next month, we have another fundraising event in which we will honor this year's graduates. We will be congratulating completing their final year with the Glow Program.

We look forward to working with us in the future. We hope that we can count on continuing support of the Glow Foundation.

Sincerely,

Jane Reed

Executive Director

Dear Carla and Bob,

Thank donating to Glow Foundation. Your generous gift will benefit our students from under-resourced communities to succeed in college and beyond.

We appreciate giving Glow Scholars an opportunity to achieve their educational goals.

Next month, we have another fundraising event in which we will honor this year's graduates. We will be congratulating completing their final year with the Glow Program.

We look forward to working with us in the future. We hope that we can count on continuing support of the Glow Foundation.

Sincerely,

Jane Reed

Executive Director

Practice 3

Letter of Complaint


Dear Management Pardon bringing this matter to your attention instead of bringing it to the attention of my manager. However, it is my manager about whom I am writing. Last month, I noticed that the data for our company sales report had been changed and were inaccurate. When I told my manager, he prevented doing anything to correct the data. In fact, he accused "putting my nose in someone else's business". I am writing to you because the success of this company is OUR business. I resent dismissive behavior. When I spoke to the other employees in my department, they became concerned. We don't want you to blame the inaccurate data in the sales reports. My coworkers and I would appreciate giving some attention to this matter. Sincerely, Joe Reed Accounting Department	Dear Management Pardon bringing this matter to your attention instead of bringing it to the attention of my manager. However, it is my manager about whom I am writing. Last month, I noticed that the data for our company sales report had been changed and were inaccurate. When I told my manager, he prevented doing anything to correct the data. In fact, he accused "putting my nose in someone else's business". I am writing to you because the success of this company is OUR business. I resent dismissive behavior. When I spoke to the other employees in my department, they became concerned. We don't want you to blame the inaccurate data in the sales reports. My co-worker and I would appreciate giving some attention to this matter. Sincerely, Joe Reed Accounting Department

Dear Management
Pardon bringing this matter to your attention instead of bringing it to the attention of my manager. However, it is my manager about whom I am writing.

Last month, I noticed that the data for our company sales report had been changed and were inaccurate. When I told my manager, he prevented doing anything to correct the data.

In fact, he accused "putting my nose in someone else's business". I am writing to you because the success of this company is OUR business. I resent dismissive behavior.

When I spoke to the other employees in my department, they became concerned. We don't want you to blame the inaccurate data in the sales reports.

My coworkers and I would appreciate giving some attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Joe Reed

Accounting Department

Dear Management
Pardon bringing this matter to your attention instead of bringing it to the attention of my manager. However, it is my manager about whom I am writing.

Last month, I noticed that the data for our company sales report had been changed and were inaccurate. When I told my manager, he prevented doing anything to correct the data.

In fact, he accused "putting my nose in someone else's business". I am writing to you because the success of this company is OUR business. I resent dismissive behavior.

When I spoke to the other employees in my department, they became concerned. We don't want you to blame the inaccurate data in the sales reports.

My co-worker and I would appreciate giving some attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Joe Reed

Accounting Department

Grammar-Quizzes.com

PRACTICE ON POINTS OF ENGLISH GRAMMAR

Gerund Clauses with Subjects

Expressing attitudes about the activities of others

Including a Subject with a Gerund Clause

Object Pronoun vs. Possessive Determiner

Verbs Followed by a Particular Pattern.

Contrast — Other Types of Verbs

Grammar Notes

Traditional Grammar vs. Linguistic Description

Practice 1

Expressing Opinion About Situations

Select pronouns to complete the sentence.

Practice 2

Thank You Letter

Select the word from each menu that best completes the sentence.

Practice 3

Letter of Complaint