Possessive case to modify a gerund

A pronoun that modifies a gerund or a gerund phrase should appear in the possessive case (my, our, your, his, her, its, their).

Example sentence with editing. Original sentence: The chances against you being hit by lightning are about two million to one. Revised sentence: The chances against your being hit by lightning are about two million to one.

Your modifies the gerund phrase being hit by lightning.

A noun that modifies a gerund or gerund phrase also must be in the possessive case: victim’s, birds’.

Example sentence with editing. Original sentence: The old order in France paid a high price for the aristocracy exploiting the lower classes. Revised sentence: The old order in France paid a high price for the aristocracy's exploiting the lower classes.

The possessive noun aristocracy’s modifies the gerund phrase exploiting the lower classes.

Exercise: Pronoun case (such as I vs. me) 1

Exercise: Pronoun case (such as I vs. me) 2

Exercise: Pronoun case (such as I vs. me) 3

Exercise: Pronoun case: review 1

Exercise: Pronoun case: review 2

Related topic:

Possessive case of nouns

gerund A verb form ending in -ing and used as a noun: typing, thinking.

gerund phrase A gerund (-ing verb form used as a noun) and its objects, complements, or modifiers: typing my résumé, thinking about the future.