A gerund is a word that ends in –ing and is acting as a noun. All gerunds end in –ing, but not all –ing words are gerunds; only the ones that are acting as nouns.
If pronouns are placed before gerunds, the pronouns must be in the possessive form.
Correct: My going to the mall left Stacie home alone.
Incorrect: Me going to the mall left Stacie home alone.
Try It!
Find the gerunds in the sentences below, and verify that the gerunds have pronouns, not nouns, before the gerunds.
- My parents are going shopping because them shopping always lowers their stress levels from work.
- Us going to the party will be a surprise for Chris.
- I am writing a paper for school because me writing it will get me a better grade.
- She was surprised at them going to the library.
- Him falling off the swings led to him getting stitches on his leg.
Answers: 1. “them shopping” should be “their shopping” 2. “Us going” should be “our going” 3. “me writing” should be “my writing” 4. “them going” should be “their going” 5. “Him falling” should be “His falling”