Possessive + gerund (his coming)
Possessive + gerund (his coming) means “A gerund can have its own subject shown by a possessive form before it”. When a gerund has its own subject, formal English puts a possessive form before it: I don't mind his coming late. Formation: possessive (my/his/John's) + V-ing
A gerund can have its own subject shown by a possessive form before it
B2Formation
possessive (my/his/John's) + V-ing
Explanation
When a gerund has its own subject, formal English puts a possessive form before it: I don't mind his coming late. In everyday speech the object form is common too: I don't mind him coming late. Both say who does the -ing action; the possessive (his, my, Anna's) sounds more formal. This appears after verbs and prepositions such as mind, appreciate, and because of.
Examples
Note
With a noun, the plain form is now more usual than the -'s form: I remember the door opening rather than the door's opening.
FAQ
Possessive + gerund (his coming) — what does it mean and how is it used?
A gerund can have its own subject shown by a possessive form before it. When a gerund has its own subject, formal English puts a possessive form before it: I don't mind his coming late. In everyday speech the object form is common too: I don't mind him coming late. Both say who does the -ing action; the possessive (his, my, Anna's) sounds more formal. This appears after verbs and prepositions such as mind, appreciate, and because of.
Possessive + gerund (his coming) — how do you form it?
possessive (my/his/John's) + V-ing
Possessive + gerund (his coming) — any usage notes?
With a noun, the plain form is now more usual than the -'s form: I remember the door opening rather than the door's opening.