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"You" vs. "your"
Main Post:
I've always said, "I appreciate your taking the time to help me." But....
It's fairly common for people to say (or write), "I appreciate you taking the time to help me."
"Your" feels right to me, but I'm not sure why. What part of speech is "your" (or "you") in this context?
Is there a rule governing which word to use?
Thanks!
Top Comment: Both "you" and "your" are correct and standard. Using the possessive form ("your") is what older and more conservative style guides tend to call for while using "you" is far more popular in speaking (especially) and writing today. Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of English Usage has a long entry on this topic. I'll just quote from the summary: Let's recapitulate. This construction, both with and without the possessive, has been used in writing for about 300 years. Both forms have been used by standard authors. Both forms have been called incorrect, but neither is.