sábado, 12 de outubro de 2019

GERUND AS NOUNS.

Scott Ophof



Scott Ophof

• 3rd+

Retired at Home
6h • Grammar Geeks
A use of the possessive case I have lately been triggering on instances of use of the possessive case that negatively impress my sense of logic^. It seems that about every 4th^^ page (of the 3000 or so pages that I have read since this usage started triggering) had at least 1 such instance. I can see *no* logic^ in using the possessive case where for me the context clearly invalidates such use. An example of this not-logical^ use: The goal is MY being happy. where its contextual meaning is roughly: The goal is that of ensuring that I am in a state of happiness. which in logical^ use of English is indeed expressed as: The goal is ME being happy. if one insists on using the '-ing'-form of the verb. Or, if one insists on using the possessive case, this: The goal is MY happiness. What logical^ reasons exist for such instances of using the possessive case? Reasons that do *not* come down to 'the logic of language' (ie 'It is grammatical/correct because people typically use the language that way'). Re ^: As mathematicians mean the word. Re ^^: I already reduced that frequency from 'every other' to compensate for automatic exaggeration.

RESPONSE BY PRIVATE ENGLISH TUTORING:

!. "BEING" (to be) is not exactly the "ing" form of the verb in this particular app.
2. It is the "ing" gerund playing the role of a noun.
2.1. Gerunds can play the role of a Gerund-Adv., Noun, Adjectives as well.
3. Hence, the usage of "being" (noun) validates us use of possessives, and correctly like every other noun.